Switzerland and the Baltic States: what do they think of 100 years of relations?

There are 2000km separating the mountainous and alpine pastures of Switzerland from the colourful, verdant landscapes of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Bordering the Baltic Sea, these three countries are modern, forward-looking and committed to the challenges of the 21st century. Each one has a rich culture and an identity shaped by centuries of history. A collection of messages from embassies and consulates attesting to the good relations, multisectoral exchanges and trust between Switzerland and the Baltic States.

"The constitutions of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were shaped by the Swiss federal constitution": Konstantin Obolensky, Swiss ambassador to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia

"All three Baltic States still remember the fact that Switzerland never recognised the Soviet Union's annexation of their territories in 1941. Furthermore, the projects in the three countries that were funded by Switzerland in the 1990s as part of its aid programme for eastern Europe have made a tangible difference on the ground and have not been forgotten by the people or their governments.

Switzerland has very good relations with each of the Baltic States. It is seen as a reliable partner and has an excellent reputation in the region. There is also a great deal of understanding for Switzerland's policies on Europe and Swiss neutrality.

Amicable and warm, practical, forward-looking, nature-loving, constitution: these keywords sum up the relationship between Switzerland and the Baltic States. The bilateral relations are also built on Switzerland's concrete financial support after each country regained independence. Both Switzerland and the Baltic States have a great interest in climate protection, sustainability and digitalisation.

Like Switzerland, they all have an affinity with nature. The constitutions of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were shaped by the Swiss federal constitution, which was even used as a model. This anniversary marks 100 years of excellent relations between Switzerland and the Baltic States. We are looking forward to the future and to further strengthening our long-standing partnerships."

"Our mutual interests go back even further": Veronika Erte, Latvian ambassador to Switzerland

"I am very pleased with the excellent relations Switzerland and Latvia have in a number of fields. We value our friendship with Switzerland very highly.

2021 marks the centenary of Switzerland's de jure recognition of the Republic of Latvia on 23 April 1921 and the 30th anniversary of Switzerland's recognition of our re-established independence on 29 August 1991, which was followed by a resumption of diplomatic relations on 5 September 1991. But our mutual interests go back even further.

We are particularly grateful for the fact that Switzerland never recognised the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940.

I am extremely glad that Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis will pay an official visit to Latvia during this year of our centenary.

It has been a great pleasure and honour for me to have contributed to deepening the ties between our countries."

"We take the unifying power of music out into the world through the friendship between our two countries": Paavo Järvi, chief conductor of the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich

"My name is Paavo Järvi and I come from Estonia. I am the music director of the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich and I also conduct other orchestras around the world.

Music is Estonia's calling card, and it makes me very proud that here, in Switzerland, we have been able to contribute to this partnership which has reached its centenary this year. It is both fulfilling and a great honour for me to build bridges between people from all over the world through this orchestra, which is steeped in tradition and one of the very best worldwide.

Maintaining close musical contact with our compatriots and friends like Arvo Pärt, Erkki-Sven Tüür and the Estonian National Male Choir (RAM) while being here in Switzerland makes us mutual ambassadors. We take the unifying power of music out into the world through the friendship between our two countries." 

"First ever! - We will have a direct flight connection between Estonia and Switzerland": Toomas Kukk, Estonian ambassador to Switzerland

"Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 100 years ago, and especially during last 30 years, since Estonia has regained its independence, Estonia and Switzerland have developed excellent bilateral relations.

Our countries have also fruitful cooperation in the international organizations, our entrepreneurs are increasingly interested in making business in each other´s countries. Our cultural ties are developing well, the best example for this is the fact that currently the chief conductor of world-famous Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra is an Estonian Paavo Järvi.

Switzerland is a great home for about 1000 Estonians, who study or work in Switzerland or have married to Swiss partners. They make their everyday contribution to the development of Switzerland, but at the same time they also actively preserve and cultivate Estonian language and culture in Switzerland.

On this background it is very positive that starting from this summer - and first ever! - we will have a direct flight connection between Estonia and Switzerland, namely between Zurich and Tallinn, operated by Swiss.

Entering to the second century of our diplomatic relations, Estonia is determined to further strengthen and deepen our mutually beneficial relations with Switzerland."

"The Lithuanian embassy will be happy to inaugurate the exhibition of Lithuanian contemporary art in Locarno during this year’s Locarno Film Festival": Laimonas Talat-Kelpša, Lithuania's designated ambassador to Switzerland

The centenary of the Swiss-Lithuanian diplomatic relations offers a good opportunity to take stock of our accomplishments. Today we cooperate as two equal partners, who share values and interests in Europe and beyond. Our trade stands at the level of CHF 250 million and has the potential of growing. The Swiss investment in Lithuania amounts to nearly CHF 500 million. The exchange at the academic, scientific and cultural levels is thriving. The numerous success stories of our current bilateral cooperation will hopefully inspire future generations to pursue an even more ambitious agenda.

Several decades ago, Lithuanian archeologists discovered the Schaffhausen 3 Kreuzer during their expedition near Kaunas. Dated 1596, this is the oldest Swiss coin ever found in Lithuania. It signifies the longstanding commercial ties between our two nations. However, today the transactions could also make use of Lithuania’s fintech sector. According to Global Fintech Index 2020, Lithuania is the fourth most powerful fintech hub in the world.

In the 16^th to the 18^th centuries, Swiss academic establishments were attracting the young generation of Lithuanians. Thus, the University of Basel had become the seventh most popular destination for the knowledge-hungry youth. The tradition continued throughout the 19^th and 20^th centuries. In the 21^st century, it has all the possibilities to evolve into vibrant cooperation in such areas as life sciences, biotech, and artificial intelligence.

In the early 1600s, Lithuania’s chief architect was a Swiss, Matteo Castelli. Together with his contemporaries, mostly from the Ticino area, he has produced an entire school, to this day called ‘the Baroque of Vilnius’. The output of this school has significantly shaped the landscape of Lithuania and present-day Belarus, including its most precious gems in the city of Vilnius. Continuing this tradition, Lithuanian and Swiss professionals and artists could engage even more actively in the development of new urban and cultural projects which are sprouting today in our countries thanks to the robust economic development. With this idea in mind, the Lithuanian Embassy will be happy to inaugurate the exhibition of Lithuanian contemporary art in Locarno during this year’s Locarno Film Festival.

"Cultivating exchanges depends a lot on the initiative of individuals" : Markus Roduner

I am Swiss and have been living in Lithuania since 1992, with a short 3-year break in between. This has allowed me to follow the history of the relationship between Switzerland and Lithuania in the three decades following Lithuania's independence at the other end of the story. In this context, I would like to refer to my esteemed colleague Judith Lewonig's highly recommended book on the subject – a chronology of Switzerland and Lithuania's 15000-year relationship entitled "Schweiz und Litauen. 15000 Jahre Beziehungsgeschichte. Eine chronologische Übersicht" – also because it shows to what extent the cultivation of exchanges depends on the initiative of individuals, particularly in the field of culture which, being a literary translator and, more recently, a publishing director, is the area I am most familiar with.

During this time, a lot of things have become easier. These days, there are no problems being one of the few Swiss people in Lithuania, which is probably also the case for Lithuanians living in Switzerland. Things have come a long way since the somewhat chaotic conditions of the early 90s to today's normality and almost routine way of life. If I do a reading in Switzerland or Germany, for example, I do not have to explain where Lithuania is any more.

Although Lithuanians are studying and carrying out research in Switzerland, the exchange is not at all balanced, particularly when it comes to culture and education. My impression is that Swiss cultural activity in Lithuania is often successful, whereas the situation for Lithuanian literature is rather unsatisfactory – also due to the fact that the works of Lithuanian authors are not published by the major publishing houses, of course. This makes the initiative of the small Swiss publishing house BaltArt in Langenthal, which has published Lithuanian classics that would not otherwise have appeared in German, even more important.

In future, I would like to see a more lively and balanced cultural exchange between my home country and my adopted country, and for more Swiss students and artists to take advantage of the opportunities to come to Lithuania, not just for a short visit but to get a more in-depth insight into the local way of life here.