Middle East: the FDFA withdraws financial support for the Geneva Initiative
Bern, 25.1.2022 - Switzerland has been supporting the Geneva Initiative (GI) since it was launched in 2003. Due to the conclusions of an external evaluation and following the regular review of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs’ programmatic engagements, the FDFA has now decided to gradually withdraw its funding for the GI, which it supports through two local NGOs. Within the framework of its Cooperation Programme 2021–24, Switzerland remains fully committed to promoting peace in the Middle East and supports the vision formulated by the UN Security Council of a region where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace and within secure and recognised borders. This position, which was reaffirmed by the Federal Council in October 2020, is laid down in the MENA Strategy 2021–24.