News

OSCE Chairperson participates in Paris meeting on crisis in Ukraine to discuss possibility of an international contact group

05.03.2014 — Press releases EDA

Press release

Crisis in Ukraine: President Burkhalter and German Foreign Minister Steinmeier discuss conflict resolution options

04.03.2014 — Press releases EDA
Today in Bern, the President of the Swiss Confederation, Didier Burkhalter, received German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier for a working visit. Discussions focused on the situation in Ukraine, with both men underscoring the key role of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in the search for options to contain the crisis.

OSCE Swiss Chairmanship to host special meeting on Ukraine crisis today, Monday 3 March

03.03.2014 — Press releases EDA

Press release

OSCE Swiss Chairmanship to host special meeting on Ukraine crisis today, Monday 3 March

03.03.2014 — Press releases EDA

Press release

Chairman in Office urges participating States to refrain from unilateral actions and to engage in a meaningful dialogue

01.03.2014 — Press releases EDA

Press release

Chairman in Office urges participating States to refrain from unilateral actions and to engage in a meaningful dialogue

01.03.2014 — Press releases EDA

Press release

Transdniestrian settlement talks conclude in Vienna with progress on freedom of movement

28.02.2014 — Press releases EDA

Press release

Transdniestrian settlement talks conclude in Vienna with progress on freedom of movement

28.02.2014 — Press releases EDA

Press release

OSCE Chairperson and President of the Swiss Confederation Didier Burkhalter appoints Ambassador Tim Guldimann as personal envoy to Ukraine

24.02.2014 — Press releases EDA
In his capacity as Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the President of the Swiss Confederation, Didier Burkhalter, has appointed Ambassador Tim Guldimann as his personal envoy to Ukraine. Mr Guldimann, the head of the Swiss embassy in Berlin, will hold initial discussions as early as tonight in Kiev.

Swiss OSCE Chairmanship and OSCE Mission to Serbia support regional dialogue of civil society on torture prevention and fight against hate crime

24.02.2014 — Press releases EDA

Press release

Swiss OSCE Chairmanship and OSCE Mission to Serbia support regional dialogue of civil society on torture prevention and fight against hate crime

24.02.2014 — Press releases EDA

Press release

OSCE Chair-in-Office welcomes Ukraine agreement

21.02.2014 — Press releases EDA

Press release

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