Minister Lavrov – Dear Sergueï: we appreciate deeply your presence here today as a sign of friendship between our two countries.
And since Ambassador Helg has extended greetings to the other eminent guests here today, let me simply say: Doroguïé drouzïa

Dear friends of Russia, Switzerland and the Olympics,
Dobro pojalovat ‘ v Dom Chvéïtzarii !

Welcome to the House of Switzerland, the symbol of our presence at these Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. This house is a meeting place for athletes, supporters, spectators - for Swiss people and friends of Switzerland. It is to be a warm, open and welcoming place.

Everywhere in this House of Switzerland you can read about people that have built the relationship between Russia and Switzerland during the last centuries. This House is also designed to illustrate scientific cooperation between our two countries. It is a symbol of innovation in ecological sustainability. Built entirely of timber, it can be reused for other events, such as the Summer Olympic Games in Rio. We will both save money and spare the environment. As a building material, wood is both traditional and innovative. It makes for cosy surroundings, plus it's sustainable.

It is a perfect place to bring the Olympic ideal to life – through the meetings that are to take place here and the warmth and openness of our hospitality. The Olympic ideal, it is this wonderful notion that sport can be a vehicle for friendship, understanding, solidarity and peace between people and nations. It is the pursuit of excellence, practised in the spirit of competition – but also of solidarity, respect and friendship between nations.

It is essential because our duty is to provide a better world for the young generation, not a dangerous and unstable future. It is therefore more important than ever to hold high the flame of hope, which might take the shape of an Olympic torch whose flame casts a warm glow on the flags of nations present here.

And Switzerland will not settle for these words alone. We want to take action. That is why we play a role of mediator when we are requested to. That is why we are increasing our international cooperation budget to 0.5% of our gross domestic product in 2015. And that is why Switzerland has assumed the Chairmanship in this year, of the largest collective security organisation in the world, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The OSCE was conceived from the start as a bridge between regions, a platform for dialogue and peace, to help build a security community for the benefit of everyone.

That is precisely the role Switzerland wants to play: a neutral country displaying solidarity and responsibility. We strive to maintain good relations with all nations while safeguarding its own interests, promoting its values and developing strategic partnerships! We share one such partnership with the host of these Games: the Russian Federation.

This year marks 200 years since we first established diplomatic relations. Over these years – and well before – Russia and Switzerland have fostered peaceful relations, enhanced by human relationships and intersecting destinies.

Swiss architects and craftsmen were called upon already – 300 years ago - by Peter the Great and his successors to take part in the construction of St Petersburg.

And 200 years ago, when Tsar Alexander the 1st, after the Napoleonic wars and very much aware of Switzerland’s plight - through his Swiss teacher Frédéric-César de La Harpe - appointed the Greek diplomat Capo d’Istria his Ambassador to the Swiss in March 1814, it had unprecedented consequences. Capo d’Istria not only contributed to a new Swiss Constitution. At the Congress of Vienna where Russian diplomacy helped shaping the new Europe, he also helped in securing the recognition of Switzerland’s independence and neutrality in the new European order. A pretty good start of diplomatic relations!

Our countries have maintained sometimes close, sometimes more distant ties for 200 years. These relations have intensified in recent years, and scientific, cultural and economic exchange between our two countries is increasing to our mutual benefit. We have developed relations of mutual trust and confidence. And on this basis we built a strong political dialogue that allows us to discuss all kinds of issues, whether we agree on them, or disagree. This allows us to contribute together to the international debate about freedom and security.

This year, we will be celebrating the anniversary with a series of social, cultural, scientific and economic activities both in Russia and Switzerland. Our presence in Sochi also highlights the importance of our relation: We are proud to be present with this mobile and sustainable house. We are also proud to show off our businesses and their skills.

Sochi has involved Swiss experts and companies in all kinds of services, construction work, slope preparation and timekeeping, and Swiss television as trusted broadcaster of the alpine skiing competitions.

I also think that such an anniversary must focus on the future and on the young generation. So let me wish to develop friendly, peaceful and constructive relations between our two countries, for a mutual benefit, for at least the next 200 years!

And finally, as I have said, Swiss neutrality does not prevent us from looking after our interests. Comparing our track records, Russia is a leading medal winner at the Winter Olympics and many dozen medals ahead of Switzerland…

So I'd like to offer some strong words of encouragement to our Swiss athletes: I personally, the Federal Council and all the Swiss people are behind you. We are proud of you. You show us how young people can succeed through hard work and strong commitment! To all the athletes and their technical and medical teams we say: Hop Suisse!

And to our Russian friends and all our friends present here in Sochi we say: good luck to you! Udachi vsem! Da zdrastvuyet Olimpiada!

1814-2014: 200 Jahre diplomatische Beziehungen Schweiz-Russland (en)