Bilateral diplomatic relations with Switzerland began in 1899 – 1900, when the Ottoman Empire accredited its Ambassador in Brussels to the Swiss Confederation. Between 1908 and 1915, there was a gap in the diplomatic representation between the two countries. However, as of 1915, the Ottoman Empire had appointed an Ambassador to Switzerland with residence in Bern. During the transition period dating to the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey, diplomatic relations with Switzerland continued. On 1 November 1922, the Turkish Embassy in Bern was attached to the transition government of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. After the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey, the Turkish Embassy in Bern was managed on the level of a Chargé d’Affaires.
In 1925, Mr. Mehmet Münir Ertegün, as the first Envoy of the Republic of Turkey, presented his letter of credentials to the President of the Swiss Confederation. The same year, an “Agreement of Friendship” between the Republic of Turkey and Switzerland was signed. Switzerland on the other hand, opened its first diplomatic mission in Istanbul / Turkey, in 1925. The first Swiss Envoy presented his letter of credentials to Atatürk in 1928. The Swiss mission in Istanbul was moved to Ankara in 1934 and became an Embassy in 1957.
Bilateral relations with Switzerland are developing positively, in line with reciprocal high-level visits. Our political relations have gained impetus in recent years. Following the global financial crisis, economic and trade relations picked up and are showing a continuous record of development.
Switzerland recently played the role of facilitator in the process that resulted in the signature of the two protocols aiming to establish diplomatic relations and the development of bilateral relations between Turkey and Armenia.
The Turkish community in Switzerland, with its approximately 120.000 members, constitutes another key element in the relations between Turkey and Switzerland.
A milestone in bilateral relations was former President Pascal Couchepin’s visit to Turkey in November 2008. Two years later, in November 2010, President Abdullah Gül became the first Turkish President to pay an official visit to Switzerland. These contacts on the highest level allowed the parties to assess all aspects of bilateral relations.
Among other official contacts were, former President of the Council of States Mrs. Erika Forster-Vannini’s and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey Mr. Ali Babacan’s visit to Turkey and Switzerland in respectively.