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For Switzerland, an important summit meeting took place in Davos GR on the first day of the World Economic Forum (WEF): Federal President Viola Amherd discussed the EU file with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Monday evening.

According to the Swiss side, the two top politicians confirmed the rapid start of negotiations on a package of agreements on future relations. But they didn’t stick to a set schedule, as Amherd told the media after the 15-minute conversation.

They assured each other that they would now negotiate quickly. The aim is to use the “ideal time window” in 2024 before the European elections before the next European Commission starts its work in the summer with a new staff composition, Amherd said.

The Federal Councilor also reminded the President of the European Commission that consultations were ongoing in Switzerland until mid-February and that domestic political issues needed to be clarified.

Thank you very much for the meeting and the constructive exchange in Davos. https://t.co/ZtreUayjAk

— Viola Amherd (@Violapamherd) January 15, 2024

Also exchange of content via telephone

The two magistrates have also agreed to easily answer the telephone if necessary for substantive conversations. According to Amherd, the meeting in Davos mainly served to inform each other about the status of the EU file.

Von der Leyen said after the conversation that it was “very good, very friendly.” She made no further comment about the content. When greeting Von der Leyen, Amherd had previously said that she was happy that her colleague still had time for her late in the evening. Observers viewed Monday’s meeting as positive signal, after months of discussions at a technical level.

The exorbitant rents during the World Economic Forum (WEF) have sparked controversy at the highest political levels in Colombia. President Gustavo Petro eventually justified the cost of one million francs for the state pavilion in Davos GR.

His delegation is said to have rented the building on the boulevard in Davos for about one million francs for four days. Conservative Colombian MP and businesswoman María Fernanda Cabal accused the left-wing Petro of wasting money.

“How is that? Petro spends his time talking bad about capitalism and the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, but he spends 4,588 million pesos renting a house in Switzerland for four days,” she wrote on the short messaging service (formerly Twitter).

Petro eventually explained as well House not for him but “for tourism in Colombia” be determined. The public exhibition in Davos will be seen by thousands of journalists, high-ranking people and the richest people in the world, he wrote.

It was initially said that Petro canceled his trip to Switzerland because there was a 10-hour delay in his Guatemalan counterpart’s inauguration ceremony, putting the trip in jeopardy. However, Petro later confirmed he would still travel to the Graubünden holiday resort – and then to Pope Francis in the Vatican. (sda)

Monday marks a huge challenge for the Swiss army and police: Ukrainian President Zelensky and Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrive in Bern. At the same time, the WEF starts in Davos. Switzerland now receives support from Austria: soldiers from Jägerbataillon 8 from Salzburg support the airspace security operation with electronic drone defense, as the army announced on social media:

Soldiers from Jägerbataillon 8 from Salzburg support the airspace security operation with electronic drone defense during the #WEF24. For this purpose, effectors are used that force drones to land or crash through frequency jamming. #FederalArmy pic.twitter.com/3IpfQti44r

— Michael Bauer (@Bundesheerbauer) January 15, 2024

(ch media)

The organization Climate Strike criticizes the existing structures of the WEF. The forum is reserved for the global elite and is based on exploitation and inequality. It is time to decentralize power and initiate systemic change.

The climate strike raises the question of whether it is still justified for the global elite to decide the fate of the world, the organization wrote in a press release on Monday. The negative consequences of the climate crisis are mainly felt by marginalized populations.

The climate strike further demanded that the role of private property be questioned and that the current economic system be radically transformed. This is essential to tackle the climate crisis and social injustice. (sda)

The World Economic Forum (WEF) starts on Monday evening in Davos GR, before being officially opened by Federal President Viola Amherd on Tuesday. More are expected around conference week 2800 participantsincluding dozens of heads of state and government.

The mountain forum is taking place “against the most complicated geopolitical and geoeconomic backdrop in decades.”said WEF chairman Børge Brende ahead of the meeting, which has the motto “Rebuilding Trust”. In addition to wars, the climate crisis, the rising cost of living and the challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) are also discussed.

The focus is on the wars and crises of this world. On the Swiss side, yes bilateral relations with the EU. Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, which has been going on for almost two years, has already been the focus of previous conferences – now comes the war between Israel and the radical Islamist Hamas and concerns about an expansion of the conflict in the Middle East to light. added.

The most important guest is the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He wants to personally travel to Davos on Tuesday for a speech. Once again, no one from the Russian attacker is officially present. That’s what he takes Chinese Premier Li Qiang part. On Sunday he traveled to Switzerland. China is considered an ally of Russia and the West hopes to influence Moscow through Beijing.

What is also important is the planned appearance Israeli President Isaac Herzog and the participation of ministers from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, considered mediators in the conflict.

Top artists will receive a so-called Crystal Award for their services to society on Monday evening at the start of the WEF. This year’s winners are Hollywood star and Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) from Malaysia, American musician Nile Rodgers and Burkinabe-German architect Diébédo Francis Kéré. (sda)