Benvenuto a tutti
Bienvenue à tous et toutes
Ich heisse alle recht herzlich willkommen

Добро пожаловать!

Кош келиңиздер!

I would like to welcome you all to our celebration of the Swiss National Day - one month in advance, indeed, but this is the only way to catch you all here!

This is a very special occasion that I am privileged to share with you today:
This year, we are also celebrating the 30th anniversary of development cooperation between our countries; and the centenary of the Kara Kyrgyz Autonomous Oblast, the new beginning of the modern Kyrgyz Republic.

A few years after that beginning, Swiss travellers started to visit your country:
Notably the writer and photographer Ella Maillart, who is honoured in the karakul museum, and the alpinist Lorenz Saladin, who climbed Khan Tengri.
Today, I have had the pleasure to discover a bit of your beautiful country and its many similarities with mine.

We both have stunning nature and impressive mountains.

We are both rather small and landlocked countries;

We both have larger neighbours.

Geographic, natural, cultural, ethnic, religious, and linguistic diversity has been a key asset and factor for success for Switzerland as it is for the Kyrgyz Republic.

Our relations are fruitful and strong.
In 2023, Switzerland was the biggest export partner of the Kyrgyz Republic.
We have regular high-level meetings, including political consultations, and now, my visit to Bishkek.

It was about time to come here, to strengthen our relations.

The team at your Embassy in Switzerland and at the Swiss Embassy in Bishkek invest countless hours in nurturing our bilateral relations.

Not to forget the personal link of friendship between our countries:

I would like here to recognise some of my compatriots who live in Kyrgyzstan – thank you for promoting Switzerland by your presence.

I would also like to acknowledge the role of Kyrgyzstani citizens in Switzerland in strengthening links of friendship.

Dear Guests
In international fora, Kyrgyzstan and Switzerland support each other.
The most obvious example is our collaboration within the World Bank and International Monetary Fund boards.
Yesterday, I attended the constituency meeting in Dushanbe, with participation of the Kyrgyz Republic.
It showed me how strong our links are.

Switzerland will stay committed to its development cooperation with the Kyrgyz Republic. We will continue to work together in the future.
We should continue supporting the private sector, local governance and the water-energy sector, to the extent allowed by today's trying circumstances.

Speaking of circumstances, the stability and prosperity of our two countries strongly depend on the global balance of power.

As a neutral country, Switzerland is a traditional partner for peace and dialogue.
To fulfil this responsibility my country hosted the first Summit on Peace in Ukraine two weeks ago.
We have launched a broadly supported process, where voices from all corners of the globe can discuss their ideas and points of view.
The path to peace is long and challenging but it is in the interest of everyone – including Switzerland and Kyrgyzstan – to commit to this ambition.
Both our countries thrive in peace, as will Ukraine and Russia when a "comprehensive, just and lasting peace" has been achieved.

Ladies and Gentlemen
On all anniversaries, it is customary to make wishes – and I have three wishes for your exceptional country:

May Kyrgyzstan navigate the difficult international context successfully, grounded in its neutrality.

May the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan soon find a good and equitable way to resolve the outstanding border issues.

May the Swiss support in the water, health, economic and local governance sectors help make my first two wishes come true!

Чоң рахмат!
I wish you all a wonderful anniversary evening.
Thank you!

Ignazio Cassis in Central Asia: Speech on the occasion of the Swiss National Day