(MENAFN- Swissinfo)
Ignazio Cassis has reiterated the offer for Switzerland to represent Ukraine's interests in Russia. He spoke to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.
This content was published on September 22, 2022 - 09:26 September 22, 2022 - 09:26 Keystone-SDA
In a bilateral meeting at the annual UN meeting marked by the war in Ukraine, Cassis, who holds the rotating Swiss presidency this year, said Switzerland was ready to offer its good offices to Ukraine and Russia. No new announcement on such a power-protecting mandate was made after the meeting, according to the Swiss News Agency Keystone-SDA.
In August, Ukraine agreed that Switzerland could represent its interests in Russia. However, Russia rejected the offer arguing that Switzerland was no longer neutral because it had joined Western sanctions against Russia.
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Switzerland will not recognise 'sham' Ukraine referendums
This content was published on Sep 21, 2022 Sep 21, 2022
Switzerland has joined other Western nations in condemning Russian plans for referendums in four occupied areas of Ukraine.
Cassis also expressed concerns about any possible use of nuclear weapons and Russian plans to hold referendums in Ukraine.“During my meeting with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, I asked Russia to refrain from holding so-called referendums in the occupied territories of Ukraine,” Cassis said after the meeting.
In his speech at the plenary session to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Cassis strongly condemned the Russian military aggression in Ukraine and demanded an immediate withdrawal of Russian troops.“This war can only end with a diplomatic solution,” Cassis said.
Reaction
A photo of Cassis smiling and shaking hands with Lavrov was circulated on Twitter by the Russian Foreign Minister after the meeting, drawing criticism from some Swiss politicians. Newspaper Blick reportedExternal link that Cassis was the only leader from a Western democracy pictured with Lavrov.
In a response to Blick, the Swiss foreign ministry said there were several photojournalists present at the beginning of the meeting.“Naturally there are pictures of it – as of all meetings of the Swiss president in New York. At the UN, media are allowed at the beginning of all meetings.”
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- Switzerland will not recognise 'sham' Ukraine referendums
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