All news (2700)
Nagorno Karabakh: FDFA calls for an end to violence and supports ICRC humanitarian operations
20.10.2020
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Press release
EDA
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has allocated CHF 1 million for the humanitarian operations of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The FDFA also calls for an immediate stop to the violence in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Attacks on the civilian population and civilian objects must cease. The parties to the conflict are called upon to comply with international humanitarian law.
100 years of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Denmark: Federal Councillor Cassis makes official visit to Copenhagen
16.10.2020
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Press release
EDA
Official diplomatic relations have existed between Switzerland and Denmark since 1920. Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis marked their 100th anniversary with an official visit to Copenhagen. On 15 October 2020, he took part in a celebration organised by the Swiss embassy. On 15 and 16 October, the head of the FDFA met the Minister for International Development Rasmus Prehn and Minister for Finance Nicolai Wammen for bilateral talks. He also paid a courtesy visit to Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.
Official visit to Norway: Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis travels to Oslo for talks with Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide
15.10.2020
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Press release
EDA
On 15 October 2020 Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, met in Oslo with Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Eriksen Søreide. Mr Cassis and Ms Eriksen Søreide praised the excellent relations between Switzerland and Norway. In addition to bilateral relations, their talks focused in particular on the two countries' relations with the EU and their close cooperation within EFTA and the UN.
Clean drinking water and COVID-19: Swiss aid convoy reaches conflict zone in eastern Ukraine
15.10.2020
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Press release
EDA
The COVID-19 pandemic is also having an impact on the aid Switzerland provides to those suffering in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine. For the first time, a large part of the aid convoy is made up of medical supplies to help overcome the COVID crisis. On 15 October 2020, the twelfth convoy organised by Swiss Humanitarian Aid, comprising 19 trucks, reached the Donetsk region.
Federal Council adopts UNRWA report
14.10.2020
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Press release
EDA
At its meeting of 14 October 2020, the Federal Council adopted its report on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) drawn up in response to a postulate. The report analyses UNRWA's historical development, present-day values, and criticism that has been levelled against the aid agency. Support for the reforms at UNRWA that are under way is one of Switzerland's priorities.
Switzerland at virtual IMF and World Bank 2020 Annual Meetings and G20 Finance Ministers Meeting
14.10.2020
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Press release
EDA
Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer, State Secretary Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch and Thomas Jordan, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Swiss National Bank, will attend the virtual Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) on 14 and 15 October 2020. The Annual Meetings, as well as the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting, will focus on both the global management of the effects of the COVID-19 crisis and international corporate taxation.
Federal Council appoints Livia Leu as new State Secretary and approves adjustments to the structure of the FDFA
14.10.2020
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Press release
EDA
Livia Leu, who is currently Switzerland's ambassador in Paris, will assume the leadership of the Directorate for European Affairs (DEA) with immediate effect and will take up the post of chief negotiator for negotiations with the EU. She will receive the title of State Secretary. The Federal Council took this decision at its meeting on 14 October 2020. It also agreed to adjustments to the structure of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). From 1 January, the European Affairs and Political Affairs directorates will be merged under a single State Secretariat headed by Livia Leu as the FDFA State Secretary.
Middle East and North Africa: a new strategy in Swiss foreign policy
14.10.2020
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Press release
EDA
For the first time the Federal Council today adopted a strategy for the entire Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This provides a framework for all Swiss foreign policy activities in the MENA region during the 2021–2024 period. The strategy builds on Switzerland's long-standing commitment to conflict prevention, humanitarian aid and development cooperation. It also identifies opportunities for Swiss businesses, seeks to harness the potential of a well-trained young workforce and promotes digitalisation and new technologies.
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis to make official visits to Oslo and Copenhagen
13.10.2020
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Press release
EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), will visit Norway on 15 October and Denmark on 15 and 16 October. In Oslo, Mr Cassis will meet with Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Eriksen Søreide. In Copenhagen, he will meet with the Danish Minister for Development Cooperation, Rasmus Prehn, and Minister for Finance Nicolai Wammen for bilateral talks.
Übergabe des Beglaubigungsschreibens (de)
13.10.2020
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Press release
EDA
Übergabe der Beglaubigungsschreiben der neu in der Schweiz akkreditierten Botschafterinnen und Botschafter
Switzerland provides CHF 1 million to help flood-stricken Sudan
09.10.2020
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Press release
EDA
The state secretary of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Krystyna Marty, received the foreign minister of Sudan, Omer Gamareldin Ismail, in Bern on Friday. Various topics were discussed at the meeting, which was also attended by the director general of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Patricia Danzi, and other federal administration officials. Swiss Humanitarian Aid announced at the meeting that it was allocating CHF 1 million to assist Sudan, which has recently been hit by devastating floods.
Swiss hostage in Mali killed by terrorists
09.10.2020
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Press release
EDA
Friday afternoon the French authorities informed the Swiss authorities that the Swiss hostage in Mali is dead. She was apparently killed by kidnappers of the Islamist terrorist organization Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslim (JNIM) about a month ago.
