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A contact point in Bern takes care of the international community. She also fights against prejudice.
The cliché that clings to some of the ambassadors in Bern: They drive through the city in their dark limousines, do not have to pay any buses and anyway have the feeling that they can afford a lot.
Rebekka Gex-Fabry tries to appease and says that this is not the case: “They too have to pay their parking busses.” Rebekka Gex-Fabry heads the contact point of the International Bern Welcome Desk, whose mission is to “greet, accompany and inspire all international communities in Bern.” In doing so, she wants to get rid of such clichés and prejudices. “My heartfelt wish is that we think of other things as well.”
Legend:
One should not only have the picture of the ambassadors in the black limousines, says Rebekka Gex-Fabry.
Keystone (symbol image)
There is often ignorance behind some behaviors. «Somebody told me they hadn’t received an apartment. That is racism because of the color of his skin. ” But then she would have asked and noticed that the problem lies with the processes in Switzerland, which are different from those abroad.
Only if someone is an ambassador will he not get an apartment sooner.
“Sometimes we have the feeling that everything is done for them, they enjoy many privileges and immunities. But that’s not the reality. ” In Switzerland everyone would be treated equally: “Only if someone is an ambassador will he not get an apartment sooner.” She also tries to illustrate this to the international community.
No question that doesn’t exist
Because Rebekka Gex-Fabry is there for you – for all your questions and concerns. Since August 2020 she has headed the contact point of the International Bern Welcome Desk, which helps international society: be it with registration, looking for an apartment, looking for a daycare place for the children or a job for the accompanying person.
Legend:
Rebekka Gex-Fabry also organizes events for diplomats, ambassadors and expats to network or to get to know Switzerland better.
zvg / Rebekka Gex-Fabry
She helps ambassadors, diplomats, chauffeurs, but also foreign employees of multilateral institutions or international companies in Bern. Similar positions already exist in Geneva and Zurich.
It is also about questions whose answers cannot be found on the Internet, says Rebekka Gex-Fabry: “Somebody asked me what time you can call people here.”
Economy, tourism and politics would benefit
They help directly – with information, advice, tips – or refer them to the responsible bodies. This is essential: “People usually stay here for three to five years and have to achieve a lot in a very short time – in an environment they don’t know.”
If you feel comfortable here, that is also good for relations between the countries.
«You have a lot of visitors, you love to discover things and want to make as much as possible of your time here. So they are also exciting people for business. ” And diplomats are also interesting from a tourist point of view. This is one of the reasons why the position of the tourism organization was established by Bern and not directly with the FDFA, the city or the canton of Bern, which finance the position. In the private sector it is easier to work with people from unrecognized countries.
Legend:
The ambassadors are traditionally invited to the New Year’s reception – as here in 2014 with the then Federal President Didier Burkhalter.
Keystone
In the end, the fact that she takes care of everyone also helps politicians: “If you feel at home here, talk about Switzerland well and continue to have ties with Switzerland abroad, that is only an advantage for relations between the two countries. »