08.09.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
Today and tomorrow, 8 and 9 September, the Federal Council will be hosting a state visit to Switzerland by the German President, Christian Wulff. Following his arrival at Zurich airport, the President will be received in Bern with military honours where official talks will take place. The programme on Thursday will include visits with an emphasis on science and research.
07.09.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
The president of the Swiss Confederation, Doris Leuthard, Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, the Bulgarian Minister for EU Funds Management Tomislav Donchev, and the Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi, signed the bilateral framework agreements with Bulgaria and Romania on September 7, 2010. The agreements stipulate the content and implementation of the Swiss enlargement contribution to those countries. First projects will presumably be selected and implemented towards the end of 2010.
03.09.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
A project submitted by the Universities of Bern, Fribourg, Neuchâtel and Zurich, in association with the Institut Universitaire Kurt Bösch, the University of Teacher Education Central Switzerland (PHZ) and Humanrights.ch (MERS) has won a federal contract as a Swiss Competence Centre for Human Rights. The Centre will begin its work in 2011.
03.09.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
On 2 September 2010, the Swiss professor of international law, Helen Keller, was re-elected to the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations. Switzerland, which attaches great importance to the work of the Human Rights Committee, wishes to express its great pleasure about the election of the Swiss candidate.
01.09.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
The Federal Council has decided to request increased funds in order to continue Switzerland’s traditional aid to Eastern Europe by approving a relevant dispatch to parliament at today’s Federal Council meeting. The Federal Council requests that parliament increase the CHF 730 million in funds granted in the framework credit approved in June 2007 by CHF 290 million. This replenishment would ensure the continuation of assistance to the countries of South-Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union up until the end of 2012.
01.09.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) condemns the killing of four settlers on the West Bank, which took place just before direct peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians were due to resume on Thursday in Washington.
30.08.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
On Monday Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey met with high representatives of the Indian government in New Delhi for talks. The Head of the FDFA and the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee signed the protocol to the revision of the double taxation agreement (DBA). The occasion of the meeting was also used to announce the opening of a Swiss Consulate-General in Bangalore, which will include a department for the promotion of cooperation in the fields of higher education, research, technology, innovation and culture (swissnex).
30.08.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
President Doris Leuthard, head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (FDEA), today received the President of Ghana, John Evans Atta Mills, for an official visit at the Lohn Country Residence in Kehrsatz. The Ghanaian President was accompanied by the Foreign Minister and the Ministers for Trade and Industry, Information and a cabinet minister. At the meeting, agreements were signed on air transport and on a project to promote sustainable public procurement in Ghana.
24.08.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Calmy-Rey will meet for talks in New Delhi on Monday with high representatives of the Indian government. The discussions will focus on bilateral issues, e.g., in the domains of finance and science, as well as on regional and international themes.
23.08.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
The 2010 Ambassadors Conference starts today in Interlaken. In her opening speech, Mrs Micheline Calmy-Rey, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, said that the days when each country could resolve its problems alone were past. Calling for international cooperation, she explained that this certainly did not mean a loss of independence or an abandonment of sovereignty.
23.08.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
Switzerland is stepping up its aid for Pakistan. In several regions the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is launching projects for the disinfection and distribution of drinking water. About 250,000 people are expected to benefit from this. International organisations will receive further support, and in cooperation with the Swiss Red Cross, tents will be distributed to 5,000 people.
13.08.2010 —
Press releases
EDA
Switzerland has increased its emergency aid contributions for flood victims in Pakistan. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs now reckons with a long-term deployment in Pakistan. Four employees of the Swiss humanitarian aid unit (SHA) will set off for the crisis regions this weekend.