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Switzerland steps up the fight against HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria

21.08.2019 — Press release EDA
Every year, 2.5 million people die of AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria, mainly in low- and middle-income countries. At its meeting of 21 August 2019, the Federal Council approved a contribution of CHF 64 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) for the 2020–22 period and a further CHF 30 million for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for the 2019–21 period. With this funding and its expertise, Switzerland aims to reduce global health risks while strengthening Geneva's position as a centre of excellence in the field of global health.

Federal Council joins political declaration to prevent sexual assault in UN field operations

21.08.2019 — Press release EDA
On 21 August 2019, the Federal Council decided that Switzerland would support a political declaration of intent (compact) on preventing sexual exploitation and abuse in UN field operations. The compact between the Federal Council and the UN Secretary-General sets out measures, which, although legally non-binding on either party, are consistent with the zero tolerance policy the Federal Council has set out in Switzerland’s priorities for the UN.

FDFA State Secretary Pascale Baeriswyl to head Switzerland's mission to the UN in New York from 2020

21.08.2019 — Press release EDA
At its meeting of 21 August 2019, the Federal Council appointed FDFA State Secretary Pascale Baeriswyl as the new head of the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations in New York. She will serve as State Secretary until the end of 2019 and will take up her new post in spring 2020.

Meet the Ambassadors

19.08.2019 — Local news EDA
From August 19 to September 6, 2019, the FDFA is embarking on a special kind of tour de suisse: as part of the "Meet the Ambassadors" project, Swiss ambassadors will visit their home cantons for eleven days to talk about her work abroad or in the FDFA. The focus is on exchanges with people about foreign policy and the work of diplomats.

Federal Act on Private Security Services Provided Abroad: annual implementation report for 2018

14.08.2019 — Press release EDA
The authority responsible for the implementation of the Federal Act on Private Security Services Provided Abroad (PSSA) has published its third activity report, covering the period from 1 January–31 December 2018. The authority processed a total of 479 declarations from private security companies. The Federal Council took note of this at its meeting on 14 August 2019.

Switzerland's natural beauty, location advantage and political system earn accolades abroad

13.08.2019 — Press release EDA
A representative survey carried out by Presence Switzerland in 19 countries shows that Switzerland enjoys a very positive image abroad. It earns high marks for its natural beauty, unspoiled environment and well-functioning political system, and also as a centre for business, research and education. The Swiss financial sector enjoys an excellent reputation, with its banks and financial institutions taking the first rank ahead of Germany, the UK and the US. There is however limited public awareness internationally of what Switzerland is doing to promote peace and human rights and address the problems the world is facing today.

Ignazio Cassis visits Swiss projects in cyclone-stricken Mozambique

07.08.2019 — EDA
On the second day of his trip to Mozambique, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis visited Swiss humanitarian aid projects in the country. In Beira in central Mozambique he saw first-hand the scale of the devastation caused by Cyclone Idai in March 2019 and the measures taken in its wake.

Ignazio Cassis attends the ceremony marking the signing of Swiss-brokered peace treaty in Mozambique

06.08.2019 — Press release EDA
Together with other high-ranking members of the international community, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, took part earlier today in a ceremony marking the signing of the peace accord between RENAMO and FRELIMO, the opposing sides in Mozambique's civil war. This peace accord was in large measure concluded thanks to Swiss support.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis to visit Mozambique on the occasion of the signing of the peace accord

05.08.2019 — Press release EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will travel to Mozambique on Tuesday 6 August 2019 to attend the signing ceremony of the peace accord, to which Switzerland made a decisive contribution. Various political talks and visits to Swiss aid projects are also on the agenda. Mr Cassis will be accompanied by Councillor of States Damian Müller and National Councillor Thomas Aeschi.

FDFA regrets demise of the INF Treaty

02.08.2019 — Press release EDA
The FDFA regrets the demise of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty which, since 1987, had banned a particularly destabilising category of nuclear missiles. Termination of the INF Treaty means the loss of an important arms control instrument which has been crucial in contributing to European security.

State Secretary Pascale Baeriswyl represents Switzerland at ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and attends opening of a new heart clinic affiliated with Kantha Bopha Children's Hospitals in Cambodia

02.08.2019 — Press release EDA
On 1 and 2 August , FDFA State Secretary Pascale Baeriswyl made a visit at Thailand's invitation to Bangkok, where she represented Switzerland at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, attended the signing of a Swiss cooperation agreement with the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management, and met with high-ranking government representatives from Asia, Europe and North America. Before travelling to Thailand, Ms Baeriswyl visited Cambodia, where she attended the opening of the new Kantha Bopha Hospital heart clinic in Phnom Penh.

Celebrating 1 August in Switzerland's four language regions

01.08.2019 — Article EDA
To mark the Swiss national holiday, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis is visiting all four language regions of Switzerland. The head of the FDFA will give a speech and meet with locals at Krauchthal (BE), L'Etivaz (VD), Chiasso (TI) and Zuoz (GR).

Media (2392)

Switzerland steps up the fight against HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria

Federal Council joins political declaration to prevent sexual assault in UN field operations

FDFA State Secretary Pascale Baeriswyl to head Switzerland's mission to the UN in New York from 2020

Federal Act on Private Security Services Provided Abroad: annual implementation report for 2018

Switzerland's natural beauty, location advantage and political system earn accolades abroad

Ignazio Cassis attends the ceremony marking the signing of Swiss-brokered peace treaty in Mozambique

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis to visit Mozambique on the occasion of the signing of the peace accord

FDFA regrets demise of the INF Treaty

State Secretary Pascale Baeriswyl represents Switzerland at ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and attends opening of a new heart clinic affiliated with Kantha Bopha Children's Hospitals in Cambodia

FDFA State Secretary Pascale Baeriswyl in Saudi Arabia for political consultations

22.07.2019 — Press release EDA
FDFA State Secretary Pascale Baeriswyl held consultations in Saudi Arabia yesterday. During her visit she met various Saudi and Swiss stakeholders based in the country. The trip follows on from recent contacts with various Gulf states where Ms Baeriswyl discussed the current situation and offered Switzerland's good offices to help ease tensions. To this end, Switzerland applauds the recent evacuation of an Iranian crew member to Oman for medical reasons and Saudi Arabia's efforts in releasing Iranian oil tanker Happiness 1.

41st session of the Human Rights Council – Switzerland successfully presents two resolutions

12.07.2019 — Press release EDA
The Human Rights Council (HRC) concludes today its 41st session. Switzerland successfully presented two resolutions: the first one on forced and child marriage and the second on equal pay.

Ambassador Mirko Manzoni is appointed the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Mozambique

09.07.2019 — Press release EDA
On 8 July 2019, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Mirko Manzoni, the Swiss ambassador in Maputo, as his Personal Envoy for Mozambique. The FDFA welcomes this decision which recognises Switzerland’s longstanding commitment to the UN and underlines its active role in the ongoing peace process in Mozambique.

Other news (219)

Meet the Ambassadors

Ignazio Cassis visits Swiss projects in cyclone-stricken Mozambique

Celebrating 1 August in Switzerland's four language regions

Switzerland at Expo 2020 Dubai: Federal Councillor Cassis takes policy decision on sponsorship deal

30.07.2019 — EDA
The FDFA is no longer pursuing the possibility of a sponsorship with Philip Morris International (PMI) for the Swiss pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis made this decision so as not to undermine the primary objective of the Swiss presence in Dubai, which is to convey a positive image of Switzerland. Mr Cassis has also instructed Presence Switzerland to revise the FDFA's current sponsorship policy by the end of 2019.

FDFA statement concerning the article published on 25 July 2019 by the Swiss weekly Weltwoche about FDFA State Secretary Pascale Baeriswyl

25.07.2019 — EDA
The FDFA wishes to emphasise that the decision regarding services supplied by Pilatus Aircraft Ltd in Saudi Arabia was the result of a legal procedure and was therefore not a political decision. The FDFA rejects the assertions made by Weltwoche about State Secretary Pascale Baeriswyl in this context.

Ignazio Cassis discusses Cyprus question and Syrian crisis with Turkish counterpart

12.07.2019 — EDA
The head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, culminated his trip to the eastern Mediterranean with a visit to Turkey. During his meeting with Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu in Ankara, he spoke, among other things, about the open Cyprus question, human rights, and developments in Syria and their consequences for the region and Europe.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis visits Samos refugee camp and meets new Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs

10.07.2019 — EDA
Mr Cassis's visit to Greece has mainly been concerned with the situation of refugees and the challenges posed by migration. On Tuesday, the head of the FDFA visited the refugee camp on Samos and today met Nikos Dendias, who was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs this week, and President Prokopis Pavlopoulos.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis proposes Switzerland's good offices to Cyprus

09.07.2019 — EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis's visit to Nicosia was marked by the Cyprus question, which has remained unresolved for decades. After a visit to the buffer zone between the north and the south of the island on Monday, Mr Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, met today with Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Christodoulides.

Nigeria ordered to release the San Padre Pio, its cargo and crew

06.07.2019 — EDA
In an order delivered today, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in Hamburg has ruled that the San Padre Pio, a vessel flying the Swiss flag, and its crew and cargo must be released. Switzerland welcomes this decision. Nigeria has been holding the San Padre Pio, with its crew and cargo, for more than 17 months. The order largely upholds the request that Switzerland submitted to the tribunal.

'Together we're better': SDC and SECO sponsor initiatives run by committed young people

18.01.2019 — EDA
Working with young men and women on overcoming global challenges: the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) have launched the 'Together we're better' competition, sponsoring initiatives run by young people. The SDC and SECO are looking for innovative projects run by young people in the 16–35 age group which aim to improve the living conditions of disadvantaged communities in developing countries. Prizes will be awarded to the winning projects at the 2019 Annual Development Cooperation Conference to be held in Fribourg on 21 June 2019.

Christine Schraner Burgener appointed UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Myanmar

26.04.2018 — EDA
The FDFA welcomes the UN Secretary-General's decision to appoint Ambassador Christine Schraner Burgener as his special envoy for Myanmar. This is further proof of the excellence of Swiss diplomacy.

Programme of members of the Federal Council attending the WEF Annual Meeting 2018

24.01.2018 — Article EDA
Bern, 24.01.2018 – The Federal Council continues to hold the view that the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting is of great importance. Five Federal Council members will be attending the event this year; around 60 bilateral meetings are expected to take place. President Alain Berset will be holding meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. Arrangements for further meetings, such as with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, are still under discussion, as are details of the meeting with President Trump.

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