Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis reaffirms Swiss commitment to peace and stability in the Western Balkans
Bern, 06.11.2026 — Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis visited Serbia, Kosovo and North Macedonia from 4 to 6 November 2026. The trip focused on bilateral relations, economic perspectives and the promotion of peace, stability and security in the Western Balkans. In his capacity as chairman-in-office of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Mr Cassis also visited the OSCE missions in Belgrade, Pristina and Skopje.
Ten days after the parliamentary elections in Serbia, the OSCE chairman-in-office, Ignazio Cassis, met the acting president of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, and elected parliamentarians of the Student List political party in Belgrade on 4 and 5 November. They discussed the current challenges following the parliamentary elections and the importance of an orderly transition of power. Also on the agenda were the bilateral relations between Switzerland and Serbia, which go back 110 years. The head of the FDFA also inaugurated the new premises of the Swiss embassy in Belgrade.
Kosovo: close ties and economic prospects
In Pristina, Mr Cassis met President Justina Shiroka Pula and Prime Minister Albin Kurti on 5 November, and also held bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca. The partnership between the two countries is shaped by the large Kosovar diaspora in Switzerland.
The talks focused on the situation in the Western Balkans and Switzerland’s support for the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. Mr Cassis underlined the importance of the rights of all communities in Kosovo. Economic relations were a further subject of discussion, in view of the recent entry into force of the free trade agreement between EFTA (including Switzerland) and Kosovo, and the new opportunities for economic partnerships that it offers.
Also in Pristina, Mr Cassis and Mr Konjufca then together inaugurated the new premises of the Swiss embassy.
While in Kosovo Mr Cassis visited the SWISSCOY contingent in Pristina that has been part of the KFOR international security force since 1999. There he talked with members of the Swiss Armed Forces about the security situation in the region, and thanked them for their service.
North Macedonia: towards closer economic cooperation
In North Macedonia, Mr Cassis met with Timčo Mucunski, the minister of foreign affairs, on 6 November. The talks in Skopje focused on bilateral relations, European integration, the situation in the Western Balkans and ways of further strengthening economic ties between the two countries. The launch of the SwissCham chamber of commerce in North Macedonia in April of this year marked an important step in this direction.
During the talks in Serbia, Kosovo and North Macedonia, the Swiss cooperation programmes in the Western Balkans were also discussed; these will be continued in future by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
Visit to the OSCE missions in Belgrade, Pristina and Skopje
As part of his trip, in his capacity as chairman-in-office of the OSCE Mr Cassis also visited the OSCE missions in Belgrade, Pristina and Skopje. While there, he emphasised the crucial importance of those offices in promoting basic rights and strengthening democratic values, and for the security of the Western Balkans. As part of his visit to Belgrade, Mr Cassis signed the Transparency and Accountability for Serbia Key Reforms (TASK) project. The SDC is providing CHF 2.53 million in support for the project.
Links
Bilateral relations Switzerland–Serbia