Second year of war in Ukraine: Ignazio Cassis at UN headquarters in New York
Bern, 20.02.2024 - Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the FDFA, will address the United Nations in New York on 22 and 23 February 2024 to mark the two-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine. He will take part in the UN Security Council and General Assembly debates on the situation in Ukraine, as well as a side event focusing on humanitarian mine action. He will also participate in various bilateral meetings.
On Thursday, Mr Cassis will commence his trip to UN headquarters in New York with a speech on humanitarian mine action in Ukraine. The contamination of a third of Ukraine – an area four times the size of Switzerland – by mines and other unexploded ordnance is having devastating consequences, both for the local population and for global food security. The elimination of these mines and other unexploded ordnance is a prerequisite for the recovery process in Ukraine and the return of displaced persons. Switzerland is strongly committed to this issue and will be organising a Ukraine Mine Action Conference at ministerial level in October 2024.
Mr Cassis will address the General Assembly and then the UN Security Council on Friday 23 February. The two-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine will be the focus of these two annual international meetings in New York. Mr Cassis will reiterate Switzerland's call for respect for the UN Charter and international humanitarian law, as well as our commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine. At these two multilateral forums, he will also reiterate Switzerland's intention to organise a high-level conference for peace in Ukraine.
Various bilateral meetings are also on the Swiss Foreign Minister’s New York agenda.
Address for enquiries
FDFA Communication
Federal Palace West Wing
CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
Twitter: @SwissMFA
Publisher
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html
