Ambassadors and International Network Conference
Bern, 18.08.2014 - The President of the Swiss Confederation, Didier Burkhalter, opened the Ambassadors and International Network Conference on Monday 18 August 2014. The theme of the four-day conference is "Diplomacy and economic development". Some 257 Swiss and foreign-based representatives of Switzerland are discussing the latest issues in foreign and economic policy as well as Switzerland's response to the challenges arising from them.
Speaking on Monday morning, President Burkhalter explained that Lugano and the Canton of Ticino had been chosen to host the conference this year in recognition of the role the canton plays in strengthening national cohesion and fostering links between northern and southern Switzerland and with Italy and Lombardy in particular. In his opening speech, entitled "Swiss neutrality and openness: our raison d'être and our reason to help," the head of the FDFA argued that in terms of international relations Switzerland was more than capable of punching above its weight. "Switzerland is greater than the sum of its parts. This brings with it opportunities. This also brings with it responsibilities," he asserted, giving Switzerland’s role within the OSCE as an example. He also stated the importance of Swiss openness towards the EU, our principal trading partner, emphasising that the commitment to renew the bilateral approach must be tempered with a control over immigration. Stressing the importance of support for young people, he expressed his wish to launch a Swiss plan of action to combat the phenomenon of child soldiers and young people engaged in armed conflict. This new strategy will be presented in October, at the next Human Security day.
The first two days are taken up with panel discussions and workshops. Key issues include the situation in Ukraine and Switzerland's competitiveness as a business location. On Wednesday, participants will split into seven groups to learn about various regions of the canton of Ticino. On the fourth and final day of the conference, the 257 Swiss representatives will travel into neighbouring Italy, to Milan, where they will be shown the Expo Milano 2015 site and the Centro Svizzero di Milano. They will also pay a visit to the Milan office of the Istituto Svizzero di Roma (ISR). This day trip is part of the initiative launched at the conference three years ago with the aim of fostering and enhancing relations with neighbouring countries.
The 2013 Ambassadors and International Network Conference took place in Bern. It was opened by Mr Burkhalter, then a Federal Councillor. Its theme was "Switzerland confronts the risks and challenges for foreign and security policy". Mr Burkhalter stressed at the time that Switzerland must retain its openness to the world and must not react to the many uncertainties by withdrawing into itself. Otherwise, he said, it would run the risk of solutions it does not want being imposed on it from outside. The head of the FDFA also explained the Federal Council's 2012-2015 foreign policy strategy and European policy.
The first Ambassadors' Conference in 1887
Every year in August or September, the heads of the Swiss representations abroad meet with the head of the FDFA. The tradition of the annual Ambassadors and International Network Conference goes back to 1887, when the then President of the Confederation, Numa Droz, invited the heads of the five missions that existed at the time – Paris, Vienna, Rome, Berlin and Washington – to attend a conference in Bern. The aim was to exchange ideas and discuss topical issues. The tradition of holding ambassadors' conferences was interrupted during the two world wars. Until 1960, the event was called "ministerial conference" because until the mid-1950s, heads of mission held the title of minister.
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