Here you can find the last 12 media releases and other news published by the FDFA, such as statements, announcements and articles, in chronological order.
All media releases can be found on the News Service of the Federal Administration.
26.04.2013
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Press releases
EDA
In the coming 12 months, workers from EU states will have only restricted access to the Swiss labour market. The Federal Council decided today to invoke the safeguard clause contained in the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons. The quotas apply to category B residence permits for persons from EU-8 states, and, provided the requirements are met by the end of May, from EU-17 states.
22.04.2013
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Press releases
EDA
The Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Didier Burkhalter, shall pay an official visit to China on 25 April 2013. He will hold high-level talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on a range of key bilateral and international issues.
22.04.2013
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Press releases
EDA
The Head of the Foreign Affairs Department, Didier Burkhalter, will travel to Strasbourg tomorrow, Tuesday 23 April 2013. The centrepiece of his visit will be a speech to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), marking Switzerland’s 50-year membership of the organisation.
18.04.2013
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Press releases
EDA
At the 2013 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, the ministerial steering committee of the IMF will consider the state of the global economy and measures to prompt its recovery and boost its resilience. The main topic for the Development Committee is the adoption of the new vision for the World Bank Group. In the run-up to the meetings, there will be a meeting of the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors, to which Switzerland has also been invited.
16.04.2013
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Press releases
EDA
Following an agreement with the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the Swiss nationals who returned from Pakistan in March 2012 after being held hostage for eight months, gave six talks at vocational tourism schools in four cantons as a well as at the University of Bern. They also agreed to be interviewed by a travel magazine. The goal of the prevention campaign was to raise awareness among future tourism professionals and adventure travellers about the risks of travelling in regions the FDFA has advised travellers to avoid. The FDFA considers this mission to have accomplished its goal.
12.04.2013
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Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Neuchâtel on 12 April 2013 for official talks. The discussions at this working visit focused on bilateral cooperation. In addition, international and multilateral issues were also among the themes discussed, notably Switzerland’s OSCE Chairmanship slated for 2014, and the situation in the Southern Caucasus and in Syria.
12.04.2013
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Press releases
EDA
Several key actors in the peace process in Myanmar, including Minister Aung Min, are now visiting Switzerland for technical discussions in Montreux on 13 April, preceded today by an official working visit to Berne. The delegation was received by Yves Rossier, State Secretary in the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). He encouraged Myanmar to continue to follow the path of reform, reconciliation and openness.
11.04.2013
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Press releases
EDA
On 11 April 2013, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter received Uruguayan Minister of Foreign Affairs Luis Almagro for an official working visit in Bern. The highpoint of their meeting was the signature of a convention on social security to facilitate the access of Swiss citizens to a Uruguayan pension, while enabling Uruguayan citizens who have worked and paid social security contributions in Switzerland to draw a Swiss pension if they leave the country. Discussions also touched upon bilateral relations between Switzerland and Uruguay, as well as cooperation on the multilateral level, particularly in the domain of the environment.
10.04.2013
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Press releases
EDA
Article - Representatives of Poland, Sweden and Switzerland, Member States of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) in Korea, met in Stockholm on the 9th of April 2013 for their yearly consultations. Discussions focused on recent regional tensions and their impact on NNSC activities and allowed for an evaluation of NNSC’s expanded tasks and cooperation with its partners. This year’s 60th commemoration of the armistice agreement, and thus of the NNSC, was also highlighted in the consultations. The NNSC Member States reasserted their long-term commitment to contribute to a permanent peace solution on the Korean Peninsula.
10.04.2013
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Press releases
EDA
Article - In 2014 Switzerland and Japan will celebrate 150 years of diplomatic relations and friendship. During the anniversary year, a wide range of activities will emphasise the similarities between the two countries, strengthen the links of friendship between them and promote cultural exchanges. With the anniversary year approaching, an open competition was organised for an official anniversary logo. The contest met with a huge response in Switzerland and in Japan. The contest jury evaluated over 230 entries, with the winning design coming from Swiss graphic designer Francesca Porro.
10.04.2013
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Press releases
EDA
Article - The fourth round of consultations between Switzerland and Tajikistan on human rights took place in Bern and Zurich from 8 to 10 April 2013. This round of consultations was held several days after the entry into force in Tajikistan of the law on domestic violence that has been expected for several years. Switzerland provided support for the formulation of the law.
05.04.2013
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Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter will be visiting South America from 2 to 8 April. He is scheduled to visit Chile, Peru and Colombia during this trip under the triple theme of “water, the economy and human security”. In addition to meetings with political representatives of the three countries, the Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) will launch and visit projects in these three fields of action supported by Switzerland, as part of the Federal Council’s foreign affairs policy.
Last update 23.04.2025
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