30.08.2011 —
Press releases
EDA
Within the frame of the “Low Carbon Cities China” initiative, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is organizing a three-day visit to Switzerland for a delegation from the Chinese Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MoHURD) including representatives of the cities of Dezhou and Yinchuan. Lausanne will welcome the delegation on Monday, 5 September 2011, and, as bearer of the “Energy City” label, will acquaint the visitors with its energy policy.
29.08.2011 —
Press releases
EDA
President of the Confederation Micheline Calmy-Rey, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), today met the Austrian Foreign Minister and Vice-Chancellor Michael Spindelegger and the Liechtenstein Foreign Minister Aurelia Frick for official working talks at Kehrsatz near Bern. International questions of mutual interest were at the top of the agenda at this meeting.
22.08.2011 —
Press releases
EDA
Switzerland has taken note of the current situation in Libya and is closely following the developments in Tripoli. It calls on all parties to exercise restraint, to respect their obligations with regard to international law, and to take all necessary precautions to ensure the best possible protection of the civilian population. It calls on the Gaddafi regime to relinquish power immediately in order to avoid further suffering for the civilian population.
19.08.2011 —
Press releases
EDA
The Annual Swiss Development Cooperation Conference was held on Friday 19 August in Lausanne. The theme of this year's conference was innovation. Around 2000 people took part in this year's conference, which was attended by the President of the Swiss Confederation Micheline Calmy-Rey, to discuss how to continue effectively supporting the countries of the South in their efforts to reduce poverty and solve their development problems.
19.08.2011 —
Press releases
EDA
Presence Switzerland is conducting a two-stage competition as a means to collect creative ideas for the design of an attractive Swiss pavilion at the Expo Milano 2015. The documentation about the competition is now available on-line at: www.simap.ch.
18.08.2011 —
Press releases
EDA
On Monday, 22 August 2011, President of the Confederation Micheline Calmy-Rey will open this year’s Ambassadors Conference at the Museum of Transport (Verkehrshaus) in Lucerne. The opening event will also feature speeches by the Belgian philosopher and economist Philippe Van Parijs and the President of the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Patrick Aebischer. The main themes of the Conference, scheduled to run until 26 August 2011, are the positioning of Switzerland at the international level, the challenges associated with defending Swiss interests in times of increasing globalization, and various issues concerning sustainable development.
18.08.2011 —
Press releases
EDA
Switzerland condemns the recent acts of violence committed by the Syrian security forces against the civilian population. It has repeatedly and publicly called on the authorities to respect fundamental freedoms. The actions of the Syrian security forces are not acceptable. For this reason, the FDFA has recalled the Swiss Ambassador in Damascus to Bern for consultations.
17.08.2011 —
Press releases
EDA
Switzerland is increasing its humanitarian aid for those affected by the current hunger crisis afflicting the Horn of Africa. The Federal Council today approved additional aid of CHF 20 million. This will be used above all for the benefit of the population in southern Somalia, malnourished children in the Dadaab refugee camp, and the host communities in northern Kenya.
15.08.2011 —
Press releases
EDA
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has expressed its concern about the deterioration of the security situation in Geneva over recent months. To this effect, Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey, Head of the FDFA, addressed a letter last week to Geneva State Councillor Ms. Isabel Rochat, Head of the Department of Security, Police, and Protection of the Environment (DSPE).
11.08.2011 —
Press releases
EDA
The President of the Confederation, Mrs Micheline Calmy-Rey, head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), and Mrs Navanethem Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, were present at a public encounter with a number of well-know individuals actively involved in the struggle against violence against women in Switzerland, at the international level and in the African Great Lakes region.
09.08.2011 —
Press releases
EDA
From 14 to 21 August 2011, Switzerland will welcome a delegation of high representatives from China who are interested in Switzerland’s experiences in the domain of the climate. China is currently engaged in the formulation of a draft law on the climate, and has invited Switzerland, via the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), to participate in the process. During the one-week visit, representatives of parliament, the academia, along with those of both the private and public sectors, will present Switzerland’s experiences in the climate domain to their Chinese counterparts.
06.08.2011 —
Press releases
EDA
Micheline Calmy-Rey, Federal President and head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), met German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle for talks on Saturday 6 August 2011 on the sidelines of the Locarno Film Festival. They both praised the progress that has been achieved in the area of taxation, as well as the generally intensive relations between Switzerland and Germany.