Russia is another country which has established strong relationships with Switzerland over the time and the process is continuing.

Swiss Cooperation with Russia

Switzerland and Russia have a longstanding relationship which goes back centuries. After the perestroika and the beginning of a new chapter of Russian history in the early nineties of the 20th century Switzerland decided to actively support the Russian transition.
The aim of cooperation with the Russian Federation is to provide support for the transition to democracy and a market economy by means of knowledge transfer and assistance.

History of the Swiss Cooperation with Russia:
Switzerland started to support Russia’s transition through bilateral cooperation projects and international programmes in 1993 based on the decision by the Swiss parliament to actively support the transition in the Russian Federation. A year later, in 1994 a Coordination Office in Moscow was opened to coordinate projects. The Swiss Cooperation Office is run jointly by the Swiss Agency  for Development and Cooperation (SDC), part of the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) part of the Swiss Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Switzerland’s first projects were related to environment and infrastructure rehabilitation of water facilities, health and cadastre) in the regions of Nizhniy Novgorod, Samara, Perm and Moscow. In Voronezh and in Kaluga Switzerland set up two foundations for the support of economic reforms and agriculture. Several human rights projects were also financially supported by Switzerland.

Given its long humanitarian tradition, Switzerland has also supported numerous projects and activities in this area, mainly in the Northern Caucasus region.

Since 1993, Switzerland has engaged around 200 millions CHF in cooperation activities with the Russian Federation. Experiences have been reviewed in May 2004. The review put in evidence the progress made in facilitating the transition process. It also showed some areas for further improvement, which together with demands from the Russian partners created the basis for a three-years-programme of around 37 millions CHF to be intiated in 2005. The programme shall further the institutional cooperation and the establishment of partnerships between Switzerland and the Russian Federation in four domains:

• HUMANITARIAN AID
  Overall aim: to alleviate distress through preventive and emergency aid measures for victims of natural disasters and conflicts
• GOVERNANCE
  Overall aim: to strengthen the ability of state institutions to act in the general interest and in a transparent, responsible and legal manner
• PRIVATE SECTOR PROMOTION
  Overall aim: to promote frame conditions and sustainable economic developement for a stable, social market economy
• ENVIRONMENT – NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
  Overall aim: to promote the sustainable use of natural resources  to guarantee their preservation for future generation

All projects take account of the transversal theme GENDER.

The programme focuses on different Russian regions and many of the projects do have a national impact. The humanitarian aid focuses mainly on the Northern Caucasus.

All programs except HA have been completed by the end of 2008. HA in Nothern Caucasus will be ending in December 2010.

Source : “Swiss Cooperation with Russia” in www.swiss.cooperation.ch

http://www.swiss-cooperation.admin.ch/russia/en/Home/Swiss_Cooperation_with_Russia