Press Release

U.S. and Switzerland Establish MOU Framework for Intensified Cooperation

U.S. Department of State
Office of the Spokesman

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns and Swiss State Secretary Michael Ambühl yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding Establishing a Framework for Intensified Cooperation (MOU) between the United States and Switzerland. 

The signing was a culmination of an effort that began with the Swiss Federal Council's May 2005 announcement that it intended to deepen bilateral relations with the United States.  The United States welcomed this announcement and, shortly thereafter, the U.S. Department of State and the Swiss Foreign Ministry began discussions on establishing a framework to coordinate relations on a broader and more structured basis.

The MOU, which is flexible and non-binding, calls for regular meetings between our governments to explore opportunities for cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including democracy and law, security, and economics on bilateral, international and multilateral levels.  The first meeting under the framework will take place in Bern within the next few months.

The United States welcomes this opportunity for closer collaboration with Switzerland and looks forward to making our intensified cooperation a reality.