Swiss and German foreign ministers meet to discuss Ukraine, OSCE and tariffs
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Swiss and German foreign ministers meet to discuss Ukraine, OSCE and tariffs
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis met his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, in Berlin on Thursday and Friday to discuss a range of issues from Ukraine to the Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE).
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The geopolitical situation in Europe, and in particular the war in Ukraine, remains a major challenge, the Swiss foreign ministry said in a press release on Friday. Cassis underlined Switzerland’s ongoing practical support to Ukraine.
At a press conference, Wadephul gave a positive assessment of Switzerland’s security cooperation and its rapprochement with NATO. In particular he thanked the Swiss government for joining the European sanctions against Russia.
“It would now be an important signal if Switzerland were to relax its law on war materiel, in favour of Ukraine,” he added, welcoming the current revision.
Chairmanship of the OSCE
Cassis highlighted Switzerland’s multilateral action, particularly in Geneva, the seat of numerous international organisations. The Swiss government is “conscientiously” preparing to assume the presidency of the Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) in 2026. However, he warned against “unrealistic expectations”.
The foreign ministers also discussed the current situation regarding the Swiss-EU bilateral package deal and the next steps in domestic policy. Cassis said parliamentary deliberations should begin in March but that ultimately Swiss citizens will have to decide.
Customs duties
On the issue of tariffs with the United States, Germany and the European Union are on Switzerland’s side, said Wadephul. In principle, the EU agrees that there should be no trade barriers.
Cassis, on the other hand, expressed his reservations about the issue after Guy Parmelin’s talks in Washington on Thursday. He stressed that the second round had now been completed and that discussions were on track.
The current situation in the Middle East was also discussed at length during his visit to Berlin. Switzerland welcomes the American plan to end the war in Gaza. The two main challenges now are to strengthen the ceasefire and disarm Hamas, said Cassis.
In addition to his meetings with Wadephul, Cassis also held talks with the Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Reem Alabali Radovan.
Translated from German by DeepL/sb
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