During an official meeting in Switzerland, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade Ian Borg shared the experiences and lessons that our country gained during the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council during last February with Switzerland.
Switzerland is the only country from the European continent, apart from Malta, that has been elected to this Council for the 2023-2024 term. Minister Borg, during a bilateral meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis, argued how Malta wants to continue to be an honest partner in favour of peace and security.
In light of the fact that next May, Switzerland will preside the Presidency of the Council, the discussion was therefore aimed at discussing further collaboration between the two countries. During this meeting Switzerland also presented its priorities for this term.
During the bilateral meeting, the bilateral relations between the two countries were also discussed. “After we obtained more than €3.5 million in funds from Switzerland towards the end of last year to strengthen the health sector, today we are seeking to further grow and widen the strong touristic potential that already exists between the two countries,” stressed Minister Ian Borg. He further outlined that fact that Malta is well known in Switzerland as one of the best destinations for learning English and hence this collaboration should continue to be strengthened.
The two ministers also discussed the Diplo Foundation, which is a joint NGO between the two countries that works on policy for small and developing states. Both Malta and even Switzerland showed their commitment so that this foundation is further strengthened and remains instrumental in the design of foreign policy.
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis praised our country for how it managed its Presidency last February and claimed that he looks forward to continue working on the good which was done, during next month. He claimed how Switzerland will focus on the subject of sustainable peace and that like Malta, Switzerland is a neutral country.
The situation in Ukraine, the role of women for peace and security, climate change, immigration and the relationship between the European Union and Switzerland were also discussed.
