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Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter and Ambassador Donald Beyer Address Young Leaders

November 2012

Didier Burkhalter urged the current and future leaders of our two countries to maintain the good relations between Switzerland and the United States.

"Dear Young Leaders,

You will be your countries’ future decision-makers in politics and business. Good decision-makers need a broad horizon and a good understanding and respect for their counterparts’ positions. In current Swiss-American relations, you can find these conditions. But it will be your task to maintain them.

By participating in the Young Leader’s Program, by exchanging ideas with your Swiss and U.S. colleagues, you are building on the good relationship between our two countries."

Ambassador Beyer called on the Young Leaders to use their influence to be a force of good all over the world.

"In September, Megan and I attended the opening of the new Swiss SuperComputer Center in Lugano.  I asked if it were now the most powerful supercomputer in the world?  The director replied, well, we are partnered with the supercomputer in Oak Ridge Tennessee, and together we are the most powerful in the universe!

I like this idea.  Young Leaders from Switzerland and Young Leaders from the USA – together, the most powerful force for good in the universe.

So here is our challenge, our call to action:  Let us use the friendship and partnership of our Sister Republics to address the most critical problems in the world today:  from Mali to Syria, from Iran to North Korea, from malaria to AIDS to cholera, fro, Al Qaeda to Hezbollah."

Federal Councillor Burkhalter's full remarks are available here.

Ambassador Beyer's full remarks are avaiable here.

 

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