Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs welcomes the release of U.S. Citizen Sarah Shourd

Bern, Press releases, 14.09.2010

The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) welcomes U.S. citizen Sarah Shourd’s release from Iranian detention on September 14, 2010. In the framework of the protecting power mandate for the U.S., for more than a year the FDFA has been engaged in Iran in working toward a solution in the case of three imprisoned U.S. citizens, including Sarah Shourd. The FDFA will continue its efforts on behalf of the two Americans remaining in detention.

The head of the FDFA, Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, was relieved about the success. From the beginning, the Swiss Embassy has been in close contact with the Iranian authorities and represented the interests of the U.S. “The FDFA, through its local embassy, regularly intervened with the Iranian authorities,” stated Federal Councillor Calmy-Rey, “We thank all parties involved and we will continue our efforts on behalf of the two Americans who remain in detention.”

The protecting power mandate is part of the good offices provided by Switzerland in the framework of its humanitarian tradition for the benefit of the international community. Switzerland has represented U.S. interests in Iran for more than 30 years.

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