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Restitution of Illicit Assets Act (RIAA)

01.02.2011 — Press release EDA
The Federal Act on the Restitution of Assets of Politically Exposed Persons obtained by Unlawful Means (RIAA) came into force on 1 February 2011. It governs the freezing, forfeiture and restitution of the assets of politically exposed persons (PEPs) in cases where a request for mutual assistance cannot succeed in the requesting state due to the failure of its judicial system. This new law confirms Switzerland’s position of international leadership when it comes to the restitution of assets of illicit origin.

Federal President Micheline Calmy-Rey pays state visit to EU-President Hungary

31.01.2011 — Press release EDA
Federal President Micheline Calmy-Rey, Head of the Federal Department for Foreign Affairs (FDFA), will be in Hungary for a state visit from 2 to 3 February 2011. Hungary currently holds the EU presidency.

Update of Annex to the Ordinance on Measures Against Certain Individuals from Tunisia

28.01.2011 — Press release EDA
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has added the names of six natural persons to the Annex to the Ordinance on Measures Against Certain Individuals from Tunisia. The name of one individual has been deleted, and one entry has been reworded. The changes enter into effect today.

The President of the Confederation gives a positive assessment of her participation at the 2011 World Economic Forum

28.01.2011 — Press release EDA
Micheline Calmy-Rey, President of the Swiss Confederation and head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), made use of her attendance at this year's World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos to hold talks with numerous heads of state and of government, and other high-level officials. In her positive assessment of her visit, Federal President Calmy-Rey said: “The 2011 WEF was a good opportunity to discuss bilateral issues with some of Switzerland’s major partners, as well as to participate in talks on global sustainability.”

50 years

26.01.2011 — Press release EDA
6 January 2011 marks 50 years of Switzerland representing American interests in Cuba. Switzerland accepted the mandate in 1961 following the Cuban revolution which led to the break-off of relations between Cuba and the US.

Swiss President Calmy-Rey on official visit to Berlin

24.01.2011 — Press release EDA
President of the Confederation Micheline Calmy-Rey travelled on Monday 24 January on a first official foreign visit to Berlin. She was received with military honours by President Christian Wulff and met for talks with Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel as well as with Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and Rainer Brüderle, Federal Minister for Economics and Technology.

Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey on official visit to Berlin

19.01.2011 — Press release EDA
Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey will travel on Monday 24 January on a first official foreign visit to Berlin. She will meet for talks with German Federal President Christian Wulff, Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and Rainer Brüderle, Federal Minister for Economics and Technology.

Federal Council orders freezing of any assets held by Laurent Gbagbo in Switzerland

19.01.2011 — Press release EDA
Any assets that might be held by the President of Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo, in Switzerland, are frozen with immediate effect. The decision was taken by the Federal Council at its meeting today. Switzerland's financial centre should not be used as a place of safety for assets that may have been acquired illegally by Gbagbo, who was defeated in Ivory Coast's recent elections.

Federal Council orders freeze of any assets held by former Tunisian President Ben Ali in Switzerland

19.01.2011 — Press release EDA
At its meeting today, the Federal Council decided to freeze with immediate effect any assets that might be held in Switzerland by the former Tunisian President and his associates. By doing so, the Federal Council wishes to avoid any and all risk of the embezzlement of property belonging to the Tunisian state. The Tunisian authorities now have the opportunity to request legal assistance in criminal matters from Switzerland.

Report on the state of work on looted art during the National Socialist era

17.01.2011 — Press release EDA
The Federal Office of Culture (FOC) is publishing on behalf of the Federal Council the "FDHA/FDFA Report on the State of Work on looted Art during the National Socialist era, in particular, on the subject of provenance research". The document, published on the Internet includes the summary of a survey of Swiss museums on the state of provenance research as well as the results of the "Holocaust Era Assets Conference" in Prague.

Official working visit by the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs

13.01.2011 — Press release EDA
The President of the Swiss Confederation Micheline Calmy-Rey today received the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Franco Frattini, who is paying an official working visit to Bern. Their talks focused on a number of bilateral issues. This year Switzerland and Italy are celebrating 150 years of diplomatic relations.

FDFA concerned by events in Tunisia

12.01.2011 — Press release EDA
The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) wishes to express its concern regarding the events that have occurred in recent days in Tunisia. The Department would appeal for dialogue and respect for human rights, including the freedoms of speech and association.

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Visit to Switzerland by the Polish Foreign Minister

26.03.2009 — Press release EDA
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Radoslav Sikorski, was in Switzerland today for an official visit to hold talks with Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey. The day’s programme included a visit to the Polish Museum in Rapperswil.

Growth in Switzerland’s Official Development Assistance in 2008

25.03.2009 — Press release EDA

Human rights dialogue between Switzerland and Vietnam

23.03.2009 — Press release EDA
From 13 to 18 March, a Swiss delegation visited Vietnam in the framework of the seventh round of dialogue on human rights and international organisations. The delegation visited ministeries and spoke to representatives of the Vietnamese communist party and of civil society.

3C Conference 2009: promoting security, development and peace in fragile states

19.03.2009 — Press release EDA
Representatives from the UN, the OECD, the World Bank, and NATO meet in Geneva at a conference hosted by the Government of Switzerland on March 19-20, 2009. This “3C” Conference, standing for coherent, coordinated, and complementary, brings together for the first time some 250 decision-makers from 40 countries – representing such areas as foreign affairs, security, development cooperation, finance, trade, justice, and law enforcement – to discuss ways to achieve security, development, and peace objectives in fragile states. Using lessons learnt in Afghanistan, Haiti, Liberia and Sudan, conference participants will discuss the benefits, challenges and operational requirements of a coherent, coordinated and complementary (3C) approach among the various actors.

Demolition of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem

19.03.2009 — Press release EDA
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) is seriously concerned by the possible destruction of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem near the Old Town. It calls on the Israeli government to comply with its obligations in international law and not to go ahead with the planned demolitions.

Visit to Bern by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe

16.03.2009 — Press release EDA
Mr Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, paid an official visit to the federal authorities in Bern on 16 March 2009.

Strong Swiss Presence at the 5th World Water Forum

16.03.2009 — Press release EDA
From 16 to 22 March 2009, some 20,000 participants from all over the world will be meeting in Istanbul for the 5th World Water Forum with the objective of seeking solutions to the water problems of the 21st century. The Swiss delegation will be led by Martin Dahinden, Director-General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Bruno Oberle, Director of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN).

Switzerland to adopt OECD standard on administrative assistance in fiscal matters

13.03.2009 — Press release EDA
The Federal Council has announced today that Switzerland intends to adopt the OECD standard on administrative assistance in tax matters in accordance with Art. 26 of the OECD Model Tax Convention. The decision will permit the exchange of information with other countries in individual cases where a specific and justified request has been made. The Federal Council has decided to withdraw the corresponding reservation to the OECD Model Tax Convention and to enter into negotiations on revising double taxation agreements. Swiss banking secrecy remains intact.

Swiss Confederation to set out its position in the court action against UBS in the USA

13.03.2009 — Press release EDA
In the civil action against UBS in the USA, the Federal Council is to instruct an American law firm to draft an amicus curiae brief explaining Switzerland’s legal position with a view to giving added emphasis to Switzerland’s sovereign interests.

Yearly consultations of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission in Bern

13.03.2009 — Press release EDA
Representatives of Switzerland, Sweden and Poland, Member States of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) in Korea, met in Bern on 13 March 2009 for their yearly consultations. Discussions focused on current tasks of the NNSC and recent developments on the Korean Peninsula. The NNSC Member States reasserted their long-term commitment to contribute to a permanent peace solution on the Korean Peninsula.

Attack in Sri Lanka

11.03.2009 — Press release EDA
The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has taken note with dismay and sadness of the news of the suicide attack yesterday near a mosque in Akuressa in the south of Sri Lanka, which caused the deaths of 15 people and wounded dozens more, including members of the government. Switzerland condemns in the strongest possible terms this terrorist attack and all such indiscriminate attacks directed against the civilian population of Sri Lanka. It expresses its deep condolences and solidarity with the Sri Lankan authorities and to the families and friends of the victims.

Vietnamese medals awarded to Eawag scientists

10.03.2009 — Press release EDA
Four Eawag scientists today received official medals from the Vietnamese government for their achievements in the areas of drinking water quality and sanitation. The medals were awarded in recognition of “outstanding contributions to education and training in Vietnam”. With financial support from the Swiss government, the scientists succeeded in strengthening capacity at two research centres in Northern Vietnam and improving the quality of local water supplies and wastewater management.

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UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development visits Switzerland

02.10.2019 — EDA
The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development visited Switzerland from 23 September to 2 October 2019. The purpose of this official country visit was to meet representatives from the Federal Administration, cantons and NGOs and learn about Switzerland's implementation of the right to development.

Second meeting of the Working Group on Unresolved Issues established by the Joint Committee supervising the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of Georgia and the Government of the Russian Federation

30.09.2019 — EDA
On 26 and 27 September 2019 a second meeting of the Working Group on Unresolved Issues established by the Joint Committee, supervising the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of Georgia and the Government of the Russian Federation on the basic principles for a mechanism of customs administration and monitoring of trade in goods, signed on 9 November 2011, took place in Bern.

Switzerland tables new Human Rights Council resolution for the abolition of the death penalty

27.09.2019 — EDA
The death penalty should not be applied any longer in the 21st century among others for drug or terrorism-related crimes. This is the objective of a resolution tabled by Switzerland together with seven other countries at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. During the Council's 42nd session, which ended on Friday 27 September, Switzerland also contributed to a resolution aimed at strengthening transitional justice.

Switzerland facilitates a meeting between Georgia and the Russian Federation

26.09.2019 — EDA
As part of its Good Offices, Switzerland has initiated and facilitated a meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Georgia, H.E. David Zalkaliani, and the Russian Federation, H.E. Sergey Lavrov.

WEF Sustainable Development Impact Summit 2019: Closing Plenary Session: “Mobilizing Action for Inclusive Societies”

24.09.2019 — EDA
New York, 24.09.2019 - Speech by the Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis at the 74th UN General Assembly - Check against delivery

EU-hosted high-level meeting on the Syrian crisis

24.09.2019 — EDA
New York, 24.09.2019 - Address by the Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis at the 74th UN General Assembly - Check against delivery

UN General Assembly: Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis calls for a peaceful solution to the Syrian conflict and climate change mitigation

24.09.2019 — EDA
Federal Councillor and head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis has set several priorities as Switzerland celebrates 100 years of multilateralism this year. Last week, he signed a joint declaration with the Canton and City of Geneva reaffirming their commitment to International Geneva's role as a centre of global governance. At the high-level week of the UN General Assembly in New York, Mr Cassis has now called on the international community to strengthen human rights, adding that this will require innovative approaches. During his stay in New York, Mr Cassis will also speak about UN reforms and climate change mitigation, hold bilateral talks, and meet staff of the Swiss mission to the UN and the Swiss consulate general in the city.

President Maurer calls on international community to follow global "compasses" and actively tackle future digital challenges

24.09.2019 — EDA
During the United Nations (UN) ministerial week, President Ueli Maurer described the UN Charter and the Geneva Conventions as "compasses of values" that are ever increasing in importance in a time of great uncertainty. The international community has the duty to protect the rights of every country and every person. The digital transformation and, in particular, data protection as part of human rights were also a focal point of his speech to the UN General Assembly.

Opening Ceremony for the new Consulate General in Chicago

23.09.2019 — EDA
Chicago, 23.09.2019 – Address by the Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis - Check against delivery

Innovation, investment, Swiss community: Ignazio Cassis opens consulate general in Chicago

23.09.2019 — EDA
Switzerland is once again represented in the Midwest, a major economic region of the United States, with a consulate general. At the opening ceremony in Chicago, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis highlighted the potential for increasing cooperation in various areas such as innovation. The reopening of the Chicago representation by the FDFA comes in response to a parliamentary request. The consulate general will increase the support available to Swiss companies in the Chicago metropolitan area and it serves as a further example of strengthened Swiss-US ties.

Carefree travel with the FDFA's new Travel Admin app

21.09.2019 — EDA
On 21 September, the FDFA launched its new Travel Admin app for Swiss nationals travelling or living abroad. Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis took part in the app's official launch in Zurich Airport's main departure terminal and tried it out himself before boarding a flight to the United States. The app is designed to help Swiss citizens plan their stays abroad and to enable the authorities to reach them in the event of a crisis or disaster.

Switzerland and Slovenia stress strong ties and dynamic exchanges

19.09.2019 — EDA
Slovenian President Borut Pahor paid an official visit to Switzerland on Thursday, 19 September. President Ueli Maurer and Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis received the Slovenian delegation at the Lohn country residence. Both sides stressed the strong ties between the two countries and the dynamic state of relations.

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