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On 25 February 2015, the incumbent Foreign Minister of Switzerland, Mr. Didier Burkhalter, reassured his country’s commitment to “promote and encourage universal respect to human rights” and continued solidarity with Eritreans in need of help. He said it is for this reason that Switzerland continually asks the Eritrean authorities to give access to the UN Human Rights Rapporteur and the UN Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea to visit the country and accomplish their mandated tasks. “Also the need of the International Committee of the Red Cross to have unhindered access to prisons in Eritrea is emphasized by Switzerland on every occasion”, Mr. Burkhalter stated in his message.

Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter

This Swiss response was made in reference to the 19 November 2014 memorandum of the Eritrean People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) which updated the Swiss Government on the situation in Eritrea and urged it to play more effective role in addressing the problems facing Eritrea and its people.

Mr. Burkhalter, who is one of the seven Swiss Federal Councilors (i.e. cabinet ministers elected by the parliament for seven-year term) was serving as President of the Swiss Confederation while also acting as the foreign minister when the EPDP memorandum reached him last autumn.

His response addressed every issue raised in the EPDP that touched upon the situation inside the country, the plight of refugees in the Horn of Africa and North Africa and the need of special care the mostly young Eritrean refugees who entered Switzerland in the past few years.

The Swiss Foreign Minister reassured that every asylum case of Eritreans is scrutinized with adequate care taking into consideration the situation in the country and that “Switzerland will continue to offer assistance and solidarity while searching for lasting solutions”, the message added.