irch newsletter 00

IR-CH Newsletter: Issue No. 0

Iran - Switzerland

Friendship Association (N.G.O)

A tribute to a famous Persian

Figurehead of nationalism and independence, Mohammad Mossadegh (16 June 1882 – 5 March 1967) obtained his PhD at the Faculty of Law of the University of Neuchâtel, where he studied from 1911 to 1914. He has marked the history of the twentieth century by nationalizing oil industry of his country before his appointment as Prime Minister in 1951. This exhibition at the University of Neuchatel invites you to discover him, through previously unpublished documents , including his academic career, and his stay in Switzerland.

IR-CH President meets Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman The first meeting between Europe & Americas Friendship Associations and the Head of Iranian Foreign Ministry Public Diplomacy Department & Spokeswoman, Mrs. Marzieh Afkham, took place on Sunday, March 8, 2015, during which Iranian Friendship Associations discussed matters of mutual interest.

During this meeting, the suggestion by IR-CH President to establish a “House of Friendship”, where all Friendship Associations may use the facility to promote their activities, was applauded and approved unanimously.

On the other hand, Mrs. Afkham thanked the Iranian Friendship Associations for trying to bring together people of Iran and other nations in promotion of peace, understanding, and stability.

Finally, Friendship Associations announced their appreciation and support of Foreign Ministry’s efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear dispute with the international community.

Editor-In-Cheif Dr. Reza Rafiei

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 N E W S L E T T E R

Iran-Switzerland Friendship Association

IR-CH NEWSLETTER MARCH 2015

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N.G.O’s and their role

in tackling environmental

issues


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Media Impact on NGO’s

Iran-Switzerland friendship association on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/623529711033119


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Swiss Made is a label used to indicate that a product was made in Switzerland. The wording was formally adopted in the late 19th century and is unique in that most other countries use the phrase "Made in (Country Name)". The most obvious place where the label is found is on Swiss watches. The Swiss laws permit the use of the words "Suisse", "produit suisse", "fabriqué en Suisse", "qualité suisse" or the translations, "Swiss", "Swiss Made", or "Swiss Movement". On some older watches, for example, the word "Swiss" appears alone on the dial at the six o'clock position. In sum, a watch is considered Swiss whose movement is encased in Switzerland and whose final control by the manufacturer takes place in Switzerland.


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The Swiss Army knife is a pocket knife or multi-tool manufactured by Victorinox AG (and up to 2005 Wenger SA). The term "Swiss Army knife" was coined by US soldiers after World War II .

The Swiss Army knife generally has a sharp blade, as well as various tools, such as screwdrivers, a can opener, and many others. These attachments are stowed inside the handle of the knife through a pivot point mechanism. The handle is usually red, and features a Victorinox or Wenger "cross" logo or, for Swiss military issue knives, the coat of arms of Switzerland.

Originating in Ibach, Switzerland, the Swiss Army knife was first produced in 1891 after the company, Karl Elsener, which later became Victorinox, won the contract to produce the Swiss Army's Modell 1890 knife from the previous German manufacturer. In 1893, the Swiss cutlery company Paul Boéchat & Cie, which later became Wenger, received its first contract from the Swiss military to produce model 1890 knives; the two companies split the contract for provision of the knives from 1908 until Victorinox acquired Wenger in 2005.

The design of the knife and its versatility have both led to worldwide recognition.


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Switzerland is the closest state in the world to a direct democracy. For any change in the constitution, a referendum is mandatory (mandatory referendum); for any change in a law, a referendum can be requested (optional referendum). Through referenda, citizens may challenge any law voted by federal parliament and through federal popular initiative introduce amendments to the federal constitution.

Switzerland features a system of government not seen in any other nation: direct representation, sometimes called half-direct democracy (this may be arguable, because theoretically, the Sovereign of Switzerland is actually its entire electorate). Referendums on the most important laws have been used since the 1848 constitution.

Any citizen may challenge a law that has been passed by parliament. If that person is able to gather 50,000 signatures against the law within 100 days, a national vote has to be scheduled where voters decide by a simple majority of the voters whether to accept or reject the law.

Also, any citizen may seek a decision on an amendment they want to make to the constitution. For such a federal popular initiative to be organized, the signatures of 100,000 voters must be collected within 18 months. After a successful signature gathering, the federal council may create a counterproposal to the proposed amendment and put it to vote on the same day as the original proposal. Such counter-proposals are usually a compromise between the status quo and the wording of the initiative. Voters will decide in a national vote whether to accept the initiative amendment, the counter proposal put forward by the government if any, or both. If both are accepted, one has to additionally signal a preference. Initiatives (that are of constitutional level) have to be accepted by a double majority of both the popular votes and a majority of the cantons, while counter-proposals may be of legislative level and hence require only simple majority.

Switzerland has avoided alliances that might entail military, political, or direct economic action. In June 2001, Swiss voters approved new legislation providing for the deployment of armed Swiss troops for international peacekeeping missions under United Nations or Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe auspices as well as international cooperation in military training. The Swiss have broadened the scope of activities in which they feel able to participate without compromising their neutrality.

Switzerland maintains diplomatic relations with almost all countries and historically has served as a neutral intermediary and host to major international treaty conferences. The country has no major disputes in its bilateral relations.

How do the SWISS play the politics? The politics of Switzerland take place in the framework of a multi-party federal directorial democratic republic, whereby the Federal Council of Switzerland is the head of government and head of state. Executive power is exercised by the government and the federal administration and is not concentrated in any one person. Federal legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature


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Iranian-Swiss relations are foreign relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Swiss Confederation.

Switzerland has had a consulate in Tehran since 1919 which was raised to the status of embassy in 1936 and also represents the interests of the United States in the Iranian capital Tehran.

As a child, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran attended Institut Le Rosey, a Swiss boarding school, completing his studies there in 1935. Switzerland became the "protecting power" of the United States in Iran after the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Beginning in 1984, victims of the Iran-Iraq War received medical treatment in Switzerland, while Swiss companies were doing multi-billion dollar business with Iraq at the same time. After the severe earthquakes of 1997 and 2003, Switzerland helped to rebuild the infrastructure. Cooperation on the national level to prevent natural catastrophes was initiated in 2006.

Trade agreements

There are agreements between the two countries on air traffic (1954, 1972 and 2004), road and rail transport (1977), export risk guarantees (1966), protection of investments (1998) and double taxation (2002). Iran is one of Switzerland's most important trading partners in the Middle East. A trade agreement was signed in 2005 but has not yet been ratified. In 2010, the volume of trade with Iran was about 741 million Swiss francs; Switzerland exported goods for about 700 million francs, and it has imported goods to 41 million Swiss francs. The main goods exported by Switzerland are pharmaceutical products, machinery and agricultural products. Switzerland exports to Iran totaled nearly USD 1.9 billion in the ten-month period ending on January 31, 2014.

2007 gas contract

In the year 2007, Iran and Switzerland signed a major 25-year gas contract to export over 5 billion cubic meters of gas per year from the Persian Gulf reportedly valued at 18 billion euros Starting with 1.5 billion cubic meters per year in 2010, to be increased to 4 bcm by 2012. This contract has been signed between the Switzerland's company of Elektrizitätsgesellschaft Laufenburg (EGL) and the National Iranian Gas Export Company which was to start practically at the beginning of 2009. There is some skepticism that Iran will not be able to supply gas to Switzerland for the foreseeable future because no pipeline connects Iran to Europe at present. In February 2010, Iran announced it is ready for gas export to Switzerland. The deal was aimed at reducing Bern's dependency on Russian gas. In October 2010, EGL announced the unilateral suspension of the gas contract with Iran.


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International sanctions

Switzerland and Iran have greatly reduced their bilateral economic cooperation since the UN Security Council took up Iran’s nuclear enrichment program in 2005. The Swiss government has been cooperating with the U.S. to freeze banking accounts and other financial assets belonging to individuals involved in the Iranian nuclear program; Switzerland has also committed to block the sale of dual-use items. Vitol and Glencore, 2 Swiss-based firms, were also major re-sellers of gasoline to Iran until recently but have since stopped trading with the country. In January and December 2011, Switzerland expanded its unilateral sanctions against Iran. The Swiss Federal Council said in a statement on January 2014 that it had suspended part of its economic sanctions against Iran in accordance with the Geneva nuclear accords between Tehran and the six world powers but the trade barriers are still officially in place. Based on a statement by Swiss President Didier Burkhalter at the 9th World Economic Forum, it will be a step by step process and the official removal of all trade sanctions will depend on the final agreement about Iran's nuclear program.

Source: https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/fdfa/representations-and-travel-advice/iran/switzerland-iran.html

History of bilateral relations

In the 17th century, the first Swiss watchmakers settled in the Persian Empire. Economic relations grew stronger in the 19th century, especially in the transportation and banking sectors. Swiss archaeologists participated in excavations in Persia.

In the 20th century, Iranians began to come to Switzerland, be it as tourists, refugees, or as students, for instance the former prime minister Mossadegh and the Shah Muhammad Riza Pahlavi.

Because of its political neutrality, Switzerland has also represented in Iran the interests of a number of countries – including Italy (1946), Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland and New Zealand (1952), South Africa (1952, 1979-1995) and Lebanon (1984). In addition, it has represented Iran's interests in relations with the Axis powers (1941-1946), in Israel (1958-1987), in Iraq (1971-1973) ,in South Africa (1979-1994) and in Egypt since 1979.

In 1873, the two countries signed a friendship and trade treaty. A friendship treaty and a residence/settlement agreement have existed since 1934. In 1919, Switzerland opened a consulate in Teheran; since 1936, it has also maintained an embassy there.


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"Creux du Van", a natural rock arena of immense proportions, is located at the border of the cantons of Neuenburg and Vaud. Impressive 160 meter high vertical rock faces surround a four kilometer long and over one kilometer wide valley basin.

First the glaciers, then the brooks have shaped the breathtaking rock formation from the 200 million year old lime deposits of a prehistoric ocean. The steep rock faces afford detailed insight into the geology of the Jurassic folding. The regional climate of the "Creux du Van" is exceptional and unusual - there are forests and arctic-alpine flora in the rock arena. Chamois, ibex, lynx and numerous other wild animals inhabit the pristine natural landscape, which is protected through the existence of a 25 square kilometer nature reserve. A spring, the "Fontaine Froide", has its source in the middle of a sinkhole. This spring's water is four degrees Celsius throughout the year.

Amazing Switzerland


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Nestle S.A. is a Swiss multinational food and beverage company

headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland

Nestlé was formed in 1905 by the merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1866 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri Nestlé. The company grew significantly during the First World War and again following the Second World War, expanding its offerings beyond its early condensed milk and infant formula products. The company has made a number of corporate acquisitions, including Crosse & Blackwell in1950, Findus in 1963, Libby’s in 1971, Rowntree Mackintosh in 1988, and Gerber in 2007.

Nestlé’s products include baby food, bottled water, breakfast cereals, coffee and tea, confectionery, dairy products, ice cream, frozen food, pet foods, and snacks, although not all of these products are on sale in Iran.

Nestlé has 8,000 brands including : Nespresso, Nescafé, KitKat, Smarties,

Nesquik, Stouffer’s, Vittel, & Maggi.

Nestlé has 447 factories, operates in 194 countries, and employs around 333,000 people. It is one of the main shareholders of L’Oreal, the world’s largest cosmetics company.


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Raclette, a simple meal made of melted cheese, the classic direct from Switzerland

- Fondue - Raclette - Nespresso - Swiss watches - Swiss cheese, - Swiss Chocolate - Souvenirs

In cooperation with Kish Free Zone Organization (KFZO), You may soon be provided the opportunity to enjoy Swiss food and purchase Swiss products Tax-Free in Kish Island. Maison du Suisse will provide you an opportunity to enjoy dining and shopping at an original surrounding, as well as acquainting yourself with Swiss culture, music and business opportunities. For more information, visit us SOON in Kish Island, or email us at: [email protected]

Raclette is a dish indigenous to parts of Switzerland. The Raclette cheese round is heated, either in front of a fire or by a special

machine, then scraped onto diners' plates; the term raclette derives from the French word racler, meaning "to scrape," a reference to

the fact that the melted cheese must be scraped from the unmelted part of the cheese onto the plate.

Traditionally the melting happens in front of an open fire with the big piece of cheese facing the heat. One then regularly scrapes off

the melting side. It is accompanied by small firm potatoes (Bintje, Charlotte or Raclette varieties), gherkins, pickled onions, and dried

meat, such as jambon cru/cuit and viande des Grisons.

In the Swiss canton of Valais, raclette is typically served with tea or other warm beverages. Another popular option is to serve

raclette with white wine. Local tradition cautions that other drinks – water for example – will cause the cheese to harden in the

stomach, leading to indigestion.

Raclette was mentioned in medieval writings, in texts from Swiss-German convents dating from as far as 1291, as a particularly

nutritious meal consumed by peasants in mountainous Switzerland and France (Savoy region). It was then known in the German-

speaking part of Switzerland as Bratchäs, or "roasted cheese." Traditionally, the Swiss cow herders used to take the cheese with

them when they were moving cows to or from the pastures up in the mountains. In the evenings around the campfire, they would

place the cheese next to the fire and, when it had reached the perfect softness, scrape it on top of bread.


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Founded in 1960, College du Leman has become a benchmark institution among the leading international schools in the Geneva area. College du Leman offers it’s over 2,000 students, who represent over 100 nationalities, the opportunity to each follow a personalized program, thanks to the breadth of academic options.

Collège du Léman is an international college preparatory school located in Geneva, Switzerland and offers individual growth, academic excellence and life-long learning to students from Pre-K through Grade 12. They are part of the international Meritas Family of Schools, a worldwide family of elite college preparatory schools that offers students the highest standards in education and unique, international learning opportunities.

Mission College du Leman is a Swiss international community dedicated to inspiring students in a quest for individual growth, academic excellence and life-long learning in a nurturing environment. They build on their strong foundations of diversity and culture to form citizens of the world who respect others, and exhibit moral integrity and social responsibility. This allows CDL alumni to succeed at their university of choice and beyond.

Vision Collège Du Léman continues to be recognized as one of the world's premier international schools known for:

• Developing analytical and critical thinking skills, • Fostering well-rounded global citizens, • Having world-class faculty, • Creating life-changing experiences, • Promoting core values.


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Peace, Friendship, Understanding and Prosperity

The Iran-Switzerland Friendship Association (IR-CH) is an independent, non- profit, educational organization. Since its founding in 2001, IRCH's goal focuses on development and strengthening of friendship and mutual understanding between the people of Iran and Switzerland. IR-CH promotes corporate, cultural, and educational cooperation between the two great nations in order to fortify a new dialogue in international affairs. Since its inception, IR-CH has held a variety of corporate, cultural, and educational exchange activities between distinguished Swiss and Iranian experts, scholars, artists and business leaders in various fields. IR-CH hopes to work with others and expand its activities to contribute to the friendship between Iran and Switzerland in the future. Iran-Switzerland Friendship Association strives to develop and strengthen friendship between the Iranian and Swiss people based on mutual understandings of our respective cultures. IR-CH promotes peace and prosperity, through creating venues for a deeper development of people-to-people diplomacy between the two countries. Founder & President Dr. Reza Rafiei

Choose us as your gateway to Switzerland

Contact us to know how you may become a member

and participate in IR-CH activities.

For all enquiries, contact us by e-mail at: [email protected]

irch newsletter 00

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