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Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis at ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Conference: global security and bilateral relations at centre of talks

11.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
On 10 and 11 July, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis attended the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Malaysia. His participation underlines South East Asia's growing economic importance to Switzerland. Mr Cassis used the platform to discuss economic ties, bilateral relations and global challenges with his counterparts from Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore. For the first time, he also met the new Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand on the margins of the conference.

Victims of National Socialism: Call for proposals to design the memorial in Bern

11.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
In April 2023, the Federal Council decided to establish a memorial in the centre of Bern for the victims of National Socialism. The Federal Council considers it vital to keep alive the memory of the consequences of National Socialism, as well as the fate of the six million Jews and all other victims of the Nazi regime. On the recommendation of the communal parliament of the City of Bern, the Casinoterrasse near the Federal Parliament was selected as the location for the site of remembrance. A call is now being organised to gather proposals for the its creation from multidisciplinary teams in the fields of art, architecture and history.

Switzerland reaffirms its commitment to reconstruction at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome

11.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
The Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) has been held since 2022 to coordinate reconstruction efforts in Ukraine. At this year's conference, which took place in Rome from 10 to 11 July, the head of the Swiss delegation, Jacques Gerber, signed an international treaty with Ukraine. This forms the legal basis for increased cooperation with the Swiss private sector in reconstruction. Projects in the areas of health, education and war risk insurance were also approved.

Strengthening economic ties is focus of talks by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis in Nepal and Bhutan

09.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis visited Nepal and Bhutan during his week-long trip to Asia from 7 to 9 July. The official talks with government representatives centred on bilateral relations and opportunities for deeper economic cooperation.

Les droits des femmes et la non-discrimination au cœur du travail de la Suisse pendant la 59e session du Conseil des droits de l’homme.

08.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
Dans un contexte global marqué par le recul de l’Etat de droit, la Suisse travaille avec détermination en faveur des droits de l’homme. Pour cette 59ème session du Conseil des droits de l’homme (CDH) des Nations Unies, un accent particulier a été placé sur la promotion des droits des femmes et de l’égalité de genre, ainsi que sur les droits des personnes LGBT. La session, qui s'est clôturée aujourd’hui après trois semaines et demie de débats, a été marquée par une adaptation du travail imposée par les restrictions budgétaires affectant l’ensemble du système onusien.

Switzerland reopens its embassy in Iran – ambassador returns to Tehran

06.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
As of today, 6 July 2025, the Swiss embassy in Tehran is open again after having temporarily closed on 20 June due to the unstable situation in Iran. Ambassador Nadine Olivieri Lozano and a small team returned to Tehran yesterday overland via Azerbaijan. The embassy will gradually resume operations.

Ignazio Cassis in Asia for ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and bilateral talks

03.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the FDFA, will be travelling to Asia from 7 to 13 July 2025. He will attend the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur. His participation highlights the growing economic and geopolitical importance of the South East Asian states. Official working visits to Nepal, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore are also planned around the conference.

Presentation of credentials

02.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
Ambassadors newly accredited to Switzerland present their credentials

FDFA State Secretary Alexandre Fasel in Germany for political consultations

01.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
Alexandre Fasel, the state secretary of the FDFA, was in Berlin on 1 July 2025 to hold political consultations with his German counterpart, the state secretary of the Federal Foreign Office, Géza Andreas von Geyr. Talks focused on current geopolitical developments, bilateral issues and the opening of the consultation procedure in Switzerland on the agreements in the new Swiss-EU package. Mr Fasel also met with the state secretary of Germany's Federal Chancellery, Jörg Semmler.

Switzerland attends 4th International Conference on Financing for Development

30.06.2025 — Press releases EDA
Switzerland will be participating in the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville, Spain, from 30 June to 3 July 2025. Organised under the auspices of the United Nations, this global event aims to address financing challenges in order to help achieve the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals. The conference will cover a wide range of issues relating to development policy, environmental, economic and social sustainability, and macroeconomics. The Swiss delegation is being led by Patricia Danzi, director general of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

Karin Keller-Sutter to meet Emmanuel Macron in Paris

27.06.2025 — Press releases EDA
The President of the Swiss Confederation, Karin Keller-Sutter, is to meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Tuesday, 1 July. The geopolitical situation and security issues will be at the centre of their discussions. Also on the agenda are bilateral relations between Switzerland and France, European policy and competitiveness.

Switzerland to host a global summit on artificial intelligence in 2027

25.06.2025 — Press releases EDA
On 25 June 2025, the Federal Council expressed its intention to host an artificial intelligence (AI) summit in Geneva in 2027.

Media (3504)

Holidays in Switzerland for Belarussian children: agreement between Bern and Minsk

18.03.2010 — Press releases EDA
Today, Thursday 18 March 2010, Ambassador Pierre Helg, Deputy State Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and Mr Andreï Evdochenko, deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus, have met in Bern to exchange notes governing stays of children from Belarus in Switzerland. This exchange will pave the way for the continued voluntary hosting by Swiss families of children coming from regions contaminated by the Chernobyl disaster.

Federal Councillor Calmy-Rey pays working visit to Berlin

16.03.2010 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), today paid a working visit to Berlin to hold talks with the German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.

Switzerland calls for a stop to Israeli settlements

10.03.2010 — Press releases EDA
The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) is deeply concerned about the announcement of the Government of Israel to authorise the construction of 1,600 new dwellings in a settlement in East Jerusalem in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It asks the Israeli government not to proceed with this building project and to halt all forms of colonisation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Signature of a Readmission and a Visa Agreement with Kazakhstan

04.03.2010 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, signed an agreement on readmissions and on visas between Switzerland and Kazakhstan on Thursday, 4 March 2010, upon the occasion of a working visit to Bern by the Kazakh Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev. Furthermore, the parties reached an agreement on fiscal issues. Another meeting dedicated to multilateral issues is planned for Friday.

Official working visit to Bern of Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sujata Koirala

03.03.2010 — Press releases EDA
On 3 March, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Mrs Micheline Calmy-Rey received the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Nepal Mrs Sujata Koirala for a working visit. The talks covered Switzerland's activity in Nepal as well as other bilateral and international issues. Mrs Koirala was also received by the Speaker of the National Council Mrs Pascale Bruderer Wyss.

Exceptional success of the House of Switzerland in Vancouver

02.03.2010 — Press releases EDA
After the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, the organisers of the two "Houses of Switzerland Canada 2010" have said that they were a great success. 60,000 guests enjoyed the Swiss atmosphere at the Vancouver and Whistler locations.

Major Earthquake off the Coast of Chile. Switzerland aids Chilean Victims

02.03.2010 — Press releases EDA
Only slowly did the full scope of the severe earthquake that struck Chile emerge. On Monday following additional damage assessment, the Chilean authorities decided to request international assistance to provide certain rescue and survival services. The Swiss Humanitarian Aid has for now allocated CHF 300,000 for emergency relief measures.

PlanetSolar is ready to circumnavigate the globe under the Swiss flag

25.02.2010 — Press releases EDA
Construction of the Swiss vessel PlanetSolar has now been concluded and today it was presented to the media at a shipyard in the German harbour town of Kiel. In the summer of 2010, the solar-powered catamaran will embark on the European leg of its mission - and beginning in 2011, on a trip around the globe - to draw the world’s attention to the significance of renewable energies. The catamaran, sailing under the Swiss flag, is the result of a project supported by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the Cantons of Vaud and Neuchâtel.

Population Survey on Development Policy: Development Cooperation deeply embedded

25.02.2010 — Press releases EDA
A clear majority of the Swiss population views development assistance as an effective strategy in combating world-wide poverty and tackling development problems. Urgent action is deemed necessary in the areas of enhancing fair trade and addressing global issues. These were the results of a representative population survey commissioned by the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC) and the Swiss Alliance of Development Organizations (Alliance Sud).

Federal Council to Put UBS Agreement to Parliament for Approval; Switzerland intends to fulfill its obligations under international law

24.02.2010 — Press releases EDA
The Federal Council is to put the Administrative Assistance Agreement between Switzerland and the USA, dated August 19, 2009, to Parliament for formal approval. It instructed the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) Wednesday to prepare the corresponding Federal Council Message. The move will allow Switzerland to fulfill its obligations under international law, and bring a final resolution to its legal and sovereignty dispute with the USA.

The Federal Council proposes a new law on the restitution of assets of illicit origin

24.02.2010 — Press releases EDA
In the context of the prolongation of the freeze on the Duvalier assets, which the Federal Council decided on 3 February 2010, today the Federal Council has decided to submit the draft Federal Act on the restitution of assets of illicit origin to a consultation procedure. The Duvalier assets could be first case to which the law would apply once it enters into force. For this to happen however it must first be passed by Parliament. With this draft law, Switzerland confirms its leading position worldwide in the restitution of assets of illicit origin.

Strengthening of cooperation with Serbia

24.02.2010 — Press releases EDA
Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Serbia about assistance in intellectual property matters

Other news (151)

SwissInTouch, Switzerland in your pocket

24.11.2022 — Article EDA
Approximately 780,000 Swiss citizens abroad currently benefit from the wide range of services provided by a global network of representations offering advice and support. The FDFA Helpline is also on hand to answer queries 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Now there's a new app that makes staying in touch even easier: SwissInTouch keeps Switzerland at your fingertips.

Speech - 150e anniversaire du passage de la frontière de l’armée du général Bourbaki

29.01.2022 — EDA
Allocution du président de la Confédération Ignazio Cassis, chef du Département fédéral des affaires étrangères, à l’occasion du 150e anniversaire du passage de la frontière de l’armée du général Bourbaki - Check against delivery.

"Digitalisation - an opportunity for Europe's democratic values"

21.05.2021 — EDA
Speech by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), on the occasion of the 131st (virtual) Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Check against delivery.

Official opening of the Ceneri Base Tunnel

04.09.2020 — EDA
Camorino, 04.09.2020 - Address by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on the occasion of the Inauguration Ceremony "Ceneri2020" - Check against delivery

Passaggio di testimone tra generazioni (de-fr-it)

25.08.2020 — EDA
Bern, 25.08.2020: Address by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on the occasion of the retirement of the ambassadors and the welcoming of the young diplomats who are taking up their posts in the service of the FDFA. Check against delivery.

75 years of the United Nations (fr)

26.06.2020 — EDA
Geneva, 26.06.2020: Address by the Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on the 75th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Charter - Check against delivery

Opening of the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council (fr)

24.02.2020 — EDA
Geneva, 24.02.2020 - Speech by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis - Check against delivery

Discover the world with the FDFA and with peace mind

17.01.2020 — Article EDA
Just what is the perfect trip abroad? And where would it take you? Swiss travellers have different needs and expectations – some prefer to go on their own, others would rather choose an organised tour. It doesn't matter if you're a backpacker or a jet-setter: the FDFA provides a wide range of services for anyone who wants to travel abroad.

Switzerland and Italy reach an agreement on Campione d'Italia

20.12.2019 — EDA
At its meeting on 20 December 2019, the Federal Council approved an exchange of notes between Switzerland and Italy regarding the change of the customs status of the Italian enclave of Campione d'Italia. This exchange of notes is necessary to ensure legal certainty and facilitates the transition of Campione d'Italia into the European Union's customs territory, scheduled for 1 January 2020.

Third 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

19.12.2019 — EDA
On 16 and 17 December 2019 a third 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.

First Global Refugee Forum in Geneva brings together actors committed to finding shared solutions

17.12.2019 — EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis has opened the Global Refugee Forum together with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. The purpose of the forum, which takes place on 17 and 18 December at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, is to find shared solutions to meet the needs of refugees and their host communities.

Federal Council extends freeze on assets relating to Tunisia and Ukraine

13.12.2019 — EDA
On 13 December 2019, the Federal Council decided to extend for one year the preventive freeze on the assets relating to Tunisia and Ukraine. The purpose of this decision is to support the judicial cooperation between Switzerland and these two states.

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