- The planned talks between the USA and Iran at the Bürgenstock have been postponed – it is unclear when they will take place.
- International media teams from Asia, the Arab world and America are still holding out in front of the barriers in Obbürgen.
- Chauffeurs expect the delegations to arrive on Saturday or Sunday – catering for Saturday has already been organized.
Before the entrance to the Bürgenstock Resort There is a lot of activity in the Nidwalden village of Obbürgen on Friday, although the area remains closed to the public and the negotiations have been officially postponed.
While dozens of police officers secure the entrance, Asian, Arab and American television crews gather in front of the barriers. They are all for this planned meetings between the USA and Iran arrived. “It’s a bit annoying that we probably came here for nothing,” says Susie, a reporter for the South Korean television station YTN. At the same time, she takes the situation with humor. «We were able to do that enjoy the Swiss landscape.»
“We don’t experience something like this every day.”
The locals also follow the events closely. Franziska (38) has just picked up her child from the playgroup and stops briefly to watch the international media crowd. “We don’t experience something like this every day,” she says. Memories come back to the Ukraine conference on the Bürgenstock in 2024. “Back then, we sometimes had to identify ourselves in order to get from A to B in the village. Luckily that hasn’t been the case this time.”
But the media storm didn’t go completely smoothly this time either. At times, the parking spaces near the school building were occupied by international journalists. “That was a bit annoying,” says Franziska. However, the police reacted quickly and instructed the media workers to park their vehicles in a nearby meadow further down in the village.
Chauffeurs are still expecting arrival soon
Vicko Baraban (69) works as a chauffeur and has been transporting hotel staff between the resort and the valley since Thursday. “We were informed today that we not only have to work until Friday evening, but also take on additional shifts on Saturday and Sunday,” he says. He also heard that catering had already been organized for Saturday. For him and other chauffeurs, this is an indication that the postponement of the talks will probably not last long. They expect that the delegations will arrive at the Bürgenstock on Saturday or Sunday at the latest.
Whether the chauffeurs are right will become clear in the coming days. As the EDA reports, the preparatory work on the Bürgenstock is continuing. It is currently unclear when the talks will take place.
What do you think about Switzerland’s role as host of international summits?
Thomas Sennhauser (ths), has been working for 20 minutes since 2020. He started as a video journalist and after two years moved to the news department, where he writes about social issues and analyzes of events abroad.
