The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, will begin an official state visit to Switzerland this Wednesday, May 21, 2025. A high-level reception is set to take place at 2:30 PM at the Bundeshausplatz, the central square in Bern, where President Osmani will be welcomed with full state honors.
According to the Office of the President of Kosovo, the welcoming ceremony will include the presence of the Swiss Military Guard and all members of the Swiss Federal Council. The event is open to the public, and citizens are warmly invited to attend.
This marks President Osmani’s first official state visit to Switzerland, signaling the deepening of bilateral relations between the two nations. During her visit, she is scheduled to hold high-level meetings with Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter and members of the Federal Council, as well as deliver a formal address to the Swiss Parliament.
Following their official talks, the two presidents will host a joint press conference, and President Keller-Sutter will honor the Kosovo delegation with a state banquet, underscoring the long-standing friendship and partnership between Kosovo and Switzerland.
The second day of the visit will include a joint tour of a manufacturing company in eastern Switzerland and a visit to the University of St. Gallen, a renowned institution dedicated to innovative teaching and learning practices. These visits highlight key areas of interest for youth development and educational cooperation between the two countries.
President Osmani is also expected to travel to Geneva, where she will meet with members of the Albanian diaspora in Switzerland – a community that has played a vital role in strengthening the bonds between the two nations.
The Presidency of Kosovo emphasized the historic and symbolic significance of this visit, stating:
“President Osmani’s state visit not only holds historical importance but also highlights the strong, stable, and multifaceted relations between Kosovo and Switzerland.”
Switzerland was among the first countries to recognize Kosovo’s independence on February 27, 2008. Since then, bilateral ties have grown steadily. The Swiss Embassy in Kosovo was opened in March 2008, while Kosovo’s Embassy in Bern was established in January 2009, followed by Consulates in Geneva and Zurich in 2010.
