"The Lugano summit will play a key role for the future of Europe."

Swiss President Ignazio Cassis makes no secret of his pride and satisfaction over such an event, the July 4-5 Ukraine Reconstruction Conference which will be held in Lugano and is part of the Swiss diplomatic tradition and which he hopes will make "a substantial contribution to stability in Europe."

The summit is a little over a month away. Which major leaders will participate?

"As is often the case with such events, it will only become known in the last two weeks which government leaders and ministers will attend the meeting. President Zelensky (with which I will be opening the conference) and Prime Minister Denis Shmyha who will be introducing Ukraine's reconstruction plan. One physically and one virtually. They will decide in the final hours who will assume what role, for security issues.

Throughout its history, Switzerland has always been a land of history-making summits. Once again, the world will be looking at us. How important is this summit?

"Switzerland is often the focus of world attention for its diplomatic offensives, just think of the Biden-Putin summit in Geneva in 2021. While diplomacy does not guarantee the absence of wars, the absence of diplomacy guarantees wars. The Ukraine Recovery Conference on July 4 and 5, jointly organized by Switzerland and Ukraine, is part of this tradition."

In concrete terms what specifically will be under discussion in Lugano?

"It is about giving the go-ahead to a process directed at the reconstruction of war-torn Ukraine. Together with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky we have invited some 40 or so countries and some 20 international organizations. At the WEF in Davos I fine-tuned the details with the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs-Dmytro Kuleba-and discussed content with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. We cannot wait for the war to end; we must think about the future. The road to rebuilding will be long and full of obstacles. I would like to inaugurate it in Lugano by kick-starting the international political and diplomatic process."

How important can an event like this be for Ticino and the City of Lugano?

"A diplomatic Switzerland is a matter of pride for us all and therefore cannot be focused only in Geneva and Bern. All of Switzerland shares, supports and finances our tradition of good offices. So, in my presidential year, it was very important for me to choose Ticino and the town where I grew up. History recounts other memorable moments. I think of 1925, when victors and losers of World War I met in Locarno to enter the pact on security on the European continent. Or in Lugano, when the Convention on Jurisdiction in Civil and Commercial Matters was signed in 2007."

Add to this the fact that this conflict touches all of Europe, including Switzerland, very closely.

"Yes, more than 50,000 refugees are already living in Switzerland. Mostly mothers and children. The spontaneous solidarity is enormous: think that the solidarity chain alone has raised over 120 million francs. The Confederation's institutional solidarity has more than doubled this amount."

So, will there also be room for solidarity during the summit?

"A fundraiser for the reconstruction of Ukraine will be part of the conference program, enabling states and organizations to show their solidarity. To organize this conference is to respond 'present' when history calls. We want Switzerland to make a substantial contribution to stability in Europe, from which we all benefit. It is a great chance for Lugano and Ticino to be at the center of the world for a few hours."

Switzerland has been advocating reforms in Ukraine for years, as part of its work to promote security and democracy

How long have you been planning and what kind of effort is the federal government making to ensure that the conference runs smoothly?

"Switzerland has been supporting the reforms in Ukraine for years, as part of the activity of promoting security and democracy. In practical terms, this journey began, during July 2021 in Vilnius, Lithuania, however, when I took over the baton for the fifth reform conference, to be held in Lugano."

In February this year then, however, there was the invasion....

"The Russian military invasion of Ukraine upset the European security order and forced us to revise the program. We then decided with President Zelensky in April to turn the conference into a Recovery Conference.

Not an easy challenge.

"The challenge is great, both logistically and in terms of security. The content has been completely redefined. We are still going to talk about reforms, but as building blocks of reconstruction. The goal is to jointly define the principles to be guided by the actors to be engaged, and to get the ball rolling. Canton Ticino and the City of Lugano are working hard, supported by law enforcement agencies from other cantons and the Confederation. The motivation is strong, as is the pride of the City and the Canton in wanting to do well and play a key role in the future of our security and that of the Continent."