News

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Burkhalter receives civil society recommendations ahead of the Ministerial Council in Basel

03.12.2014 — Press releases EDA

Press release

The President of the Swiss Confederation, Didier Burkhalter, underscores the importance of involving civil society and young people in the work of the OSCE

03.12.2014 — Press releases EDA
Didier Burkhalter, Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and President of the Swiss Confederation, took part in a civil society parallel conference today during which recommendations from civil society were submitted to the OSCE Ministerial Council. Mr Burkhalter's participation in the parallel conference underlines the importance the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship attaches to the involvement of civil society and young people in the work of the OSCE.

Some 50 foreign ministers of OSCE states to attend the 2014 Ministerial Council meeting in Basel

02.12.2014 — Press releases EDA
The annual meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will take place on 4 and 5 December 2014 in Basel at the invitation of the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship. The discussions of this central decision-making and management body of foreign ministers of OSCE participating States wilI focus on the situation in Ukraine on the first day and on combating international terrorism on the second. A civil society forum will take place in the run-up to the meeting on 3 December. The greater involvement of civil society – and young people – in the work of the OSCE is a priority of the 2014 Swiss Chairmanship.

Some 50 foreign ministers of OSCE states to attend the 2014 Ministerial Council meeting in Basel

02.12.2014 — Press releases EDA
The annual meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will take place on 4 and 5 December 2014 in Basel at the invitation of the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship. The discussions of this central decision-making and management body of foreign ministers of OSCE participating States wilI focus on the situation in Ukraine on the first day and on combating international terrorism on the second. A civil society forum will take place in the run-up to the meeting on 3 December. The greater involvement of civil society – and young people – in the work of the OSCE is a priority of the 2014 Swiss Chairmanship.

Chairperson-in-Office calls for all sides to ensure security and freedom of movement of SMM monitors following shooting incidents in Ukraine

27.11.2014 — Press releases EDA

Press release

The President of the Swiss Confederation, Didier Burkhalter, stresses importance of ensuring the OSCE's continued ability to act

27.11.2014 — Press releases EDA
At the quadripartite meeting of German-speaking foreign ministers in Berlin, the President of the Swiss Confederation, Didier Burkhalter, condemned the incident yesterday in which an OSCE Special Monitoring Mission vehicle was fired upon in Ukraine, and called for strict observance of the ceasefire. In addition to the Ukraine crisis, the representatives of Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein discussed a number of other issues, including how to deal with foreign terrorist fighters returning from war zones and cooperation within the UN. The next quadripartite meeting will take place in Neuchâtel in 2015.

Consultations by OSCE Special Representative Angelo Gnaedinger in Tbilisi, Tskhinvali, Sukhumi and Moscow

26.11.2014 — Press releases EDA

Press release

Meeting of the four German-speaking foreign ministers in Berlin

26.11.2014 — Press releases EDA
On 27 November 2014 the President of the Swiss Confederation, Didier Burkhalter, will take part in a meeting in Berlin of the foreign ministers of Germany, Austria, the Principality of Liechtenstein and Switzerland. The talks with his German, Austrian and Liechtenstein counterparts, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Sebastian Kurz, and Aurelia Frick, will focus on current international issues and the work of the OSCE and its contribution to security in Europe.

Central Asia plays important role as a bridge between Asia and Europe, says OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in regional visit

22.11.2014 — Press releases EDA

Press release

Central Asia plays an important role as a bridge between Asia and Europe, says OSCE Chairperson-in-Office at the end of a visit to the region

22.11.2014 — Press releases EDA
"Central Asia plays an important role as a bridge between Asia and Europe", said Didier Burkhalter, the Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, at the end of a four-day visit from Wednesday to Saturday that took him to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Implementing OSCE commitments in the human dimension: Switzerland publishes its self-assessment

19.11.2014 — Press releases EDA

The implementation of existing commitments in the human dimension is the main priority of the Swiss Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2014. Chairing the OSCE entails responsibilities and accountability. Switzerland has worked to improve the implementation of OSCE commitments in Switzerland itself and carried out a “self-assessment” of its performance.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to visit Central Asia

19.11.2014 — Press releases EDA
The Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Didier Burkhalter, will visit five countries in Central Asia, a region where the OSCE has a strong presence, from Wednesday to Saturday. Mr Burkhalter will visit Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, where he will have discussions on the three dimensions of the OSCE's work: the politico-military dimension, the economic and environmental dimension, and the human dimension.

All participants of Panel on European Security as a Common Project confirmed

12.01.2015 — Press releases EDA

Press release

OSCE proven its capacity to act in crisis year 2014 – continued efforts to reconsolidate European security needed, says outgoing Swiss chair

30.12.2014 — Press releases EDA

Press release

Minsk talks must resume to rapidly advance peace efforts, Swiss Chair says

26.12.2014 — Press releases EDA

Press release

Private military and security companies: Montreux Document participants Forum to continue working on implementation

16.12.2014 — Press releases EDA
The Montreux Document reaffirms the existing obligations of states under international law relating to private military and security companies (PMSCs) operating in armed conflict, and lists good practices designed to help states take national measures to implement these obligations. Six years after its adoption, Montreux Document participants have now established the “Montreux Document Forum” to continue working on the implementation of the Montreux Document and to share good practices and discuss challenges regarding the regulation of PMSCs. The Montreux Document is now supported by 51 states and three international organisations: the EU, the OSCE and NATO.

OSCE Chairperson’s Personal Representatives on tolerance make first joint country visit to Turkey

10.12.2014 — Press releases EDA

Press release

Young FDFA employees receive prizes for their project proposals

08.12.2014 — Press releases EDA
At the annual Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) end of year event on Monday evening, Swiss President Didier Burkhalter announced the winners of the "Youth and Ideas" competition he launched during the Ambassadors and International Network Conference in Milan in August. Open to the youngest FDFA employees, the idea of the competition was to launch projects to put forward the values Switzerland's foreign policy must promote according to the Federal Constitution. These are peace, human rights, democracy, sustainable development and the alleviation of poverty. The jury said all of the 41 projects entered were of the highest quality. A prize was awarded to the best three.

Le président de la Confédération s’exprimera devant les membres du CIO réunis en Session extraordinaire à Monaco (fr)

07.12.2014 — Press releases EDA
L’an prochain marquera les 100 ans de l’installation du Comité international olympique en Suisse (CIO). A la veille de cet anniversaire, le président de la Confédération Didier Burkhalter a été invité par le président Thomas Bach à s’exprimer en tant que représentant de l’Etat hôte à l’occasion de la Session extraordinaire que le CIO tiendra les 8 et 9 décembre à Monaco.

Commemorative Publication marks 20 years of key OSCE Document on Promoting Democratic Control of Armed and Security Forces

05.12.2014 — Press releases EDA

The Commemorative Publication 20 Years of OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security was presented by Didier Burkhalter, Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE 2014 and President of the Swiss Confederation and solemnly handed over to Lamberto Zannier, OSCE Secretary General representing the OSCE Community. The Commemorative Publication was produced by International Relations Defence in the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports (DDPS), and features contributions from academics and representatives of selected OSCE participating States, presenting the milestones achieved in the first 20 years of the Code’s existence as well as perspectives and ideas for its further development within and beyond the OSCE.

2014 OSCE Ministerial Council in Basel: clear endorsement of OSCE as platform for dialogue with capacity to act

05.12.2014 — Press releases EDA
The representatives of the 57 participating States of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe adopted various declarations at the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting, including on counterterrorism and natural disaster prevention. At the close of this year's Ministerial Council meeting, Didier Burkhalter, Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, welcomed an improved level of continuity in the work of the organisation. Today’s Ministerial Council decision to transfer the 2016 and 2017 Chairmanships to Germany and Austria ensures the organisation’s leadership for the coming years.

Ukraine in focus as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Burkhalter opens 21st Ministerial Council in Basel

04.12.2014 — Press releases EDA

Press release

Switzerland steps up support for OSCE monitoring mission and further de-escalation measures in Ukraine

04.12.2014 — Press releases EDA
In his opening speech to the Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, President Didier Burkhalter, called for efforts to improve implementation of the de-escalation measures in Ukraine and to step up support for the OSCE special monitoring mission and the Trilateral Contact Group. Switzerland has earmarked an additional CHF 2 million to support efforts to find a political solution to the crisis in Ukraine.

"Summary by the Chairperson-in-Office of the discussions of Day 1 at the OSCE Ministerial Council"

04.12.2014 — Press releases EDA
Summary by the Chairperson-in-Office of the discussions of Day 1 at the OSCE Ministerial Council, Basel, 4 december 2014.

"Promoting tolerance and combating anti-Semitism - our collective endeavour because it is our common history and our common future"

13.11.2014 — Article EDA

Bern, 13.11.2014 - Berlin, 13.11.2014 - Opening address by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Mr. Didier Burkhalter, at the Conference on Anti-Semitism of the OSCE - Check against deliviery