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Here you will find all the latest news relating to Switzerland's chairpersonship, including press releases, the chairperson-in-office's trips and statements.
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All the latest news on Switzerland's 2026 OSCE chairpersonship and the activities of the chairperson-in-office, Ignazio Cassis, can be found in the news platform.
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Here you will find all the information relating to events and other activities.
Press releases – Swiss chairpersonship of the OSCE
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis meets Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev
On 2 December 2025, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), received the Kazakh foreign minister, Yermek Kosherbayev, in Bern for an official visit. The talks centred on bilateral relations, regional cooperation in Central Asia and Switzerland's chairpersonship of the OSCE next year. The delegations also signed a memorandum of understanding for the implementation of the Blue Peace initiative.
Federal Councillor Cassis meets German foreign minister Wadephul in Berlin
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the FDFA, was in Berlin from 13 to 14 October 2025, where he met Germany's foreign minister Johann Wadephul for official talks. The agenda covered bilateral relations and cross-border cooperation, the package of agreements between Switzerland and the EU, and geopolitical matters including the situation in Ukraine and in the Middle East. Mr Cassis also met with the German minister for economic cooperation and development, Reem Alabali Radovan.
Switzerland reaffirms support for International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Disaster Relief Emergency Fund
The Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a key instrument to ensure that humanitarian aid is efficient, anticipatory and localised. The fund is run by the Geneva-based International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is providing the DREF with CHF 6 million for the 2025-26 period.
Swiss diplomat Jürg Lauber elected ICRC new Vice-President
The Assembly of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has chosen Ambassador Jürg Lauber to succeed Gilles Carbonnier as Vice-President of the institution, who will end his second four-year term on 31 March 2026. Currently Switzerland's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other international organisations in Geneva, Jürg Lauber is also this year the President of the UN Human Rights Council.
Ignazio Cassis on working visit to Vienna to discuss Swiss 2026 OSCE chairpersonship
The head of the FDFA, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, will be in Vienna from 17 to 18 September 2025. During his visit, he will present Switzerland's priorities for its 2026 Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) chairpersonship to the OSCE Permanent Council. Mr Cassis will also meet with the Austrian minister for Europe, integration and family, Ms Claudia Plakolm.
Contact
General Secretariat GS-FDFA
Federal Palace West
3003 Bern