Dr. Peter Maurer, Swiss State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, will deliver a public lecture on “Swiss Foreign Policy between European Priorities and Global Necessities” on 28 September 2011 at the United Nations University (UNU) in Tokyo.

In his lecture, convened by UNU with support from the Embassy of Switzerland in Japan, Dr. Maurer will discuss Switzerland’s approaches to today’s shifting global challenges, and how it handles linking European priorities with theses new global needs.

Over the past two decades, the international community has experienced dynamic changes and developments, including witnessing in the last few weeks alone many drastic changes in the Middle East region. This, coupled with shifts in global needs as well as in the interests of states and the priorities of international institutions, clearly highlights the need for capacity to reorient foreign policies in order to address these moving landscapes, new dilemmas and challenges.

About the speaker

Dr. Peter Maurer has had a distinguished academic and diplomatic career. After various diplomatic posts in Pretoria, Berne and New York, he became Ambassador and Head of Political Affairs Division IV (responsible for human security, peace, human rights and humanitarian policy). In 2004, Dr. Maurer became Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations. In March 2010, he was appointed State Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

He holds a Ph.D. in contemporary history. Before entering the Swiss Diplomatic Service in 1987, he lectured at the Institute for Contemporary History, University of Berne.