Geneva - Mischa and Mascha became Tuesday the two newest residents of the Swiss capital Bern when the wife of visiting Russian President Dmitry Medvedev officially handed the bears over to the city's parks. In return, Alexander Tschappat, the mayor of Bern, gave Svetlana Medvedev two bears from Switzerland: one made of chocolate and one of gold, local media reported.
During the first of the two-day visit the Russian president signed with Swiss officials various accords, including agreements on visa regulations for diplomats and issues pertaining to asylum seekers.
There were also talks of possible free trade deals further down the line, as well as some backing from the Russian leader for Switzerland's banking confidentiality system.
The sides have hailed the trip as a sign of strengthening bilateral relations.
Bern has been involved in diplomatic efforts since the war between Georgia and Russia last year, and represents Tbilisi in Moscow and vice versa.
The visiting president's second day included lunch with his Swiss counterpart Hans-Rudolf Merz and touring sites in the central part of the country. The trip also includes a planned stop at the memorial to the Russian General Alexandre Suvorov who had fought against invading French forces.
Suvorov lost 6,000 men crossing the Alps in 1799. Napoleon I led the last troops to have occupied the Swiss, who have maintained a neutrality doctrine since the early 17th century.
The Russian president was expected to fly out of Zurich later Tuesday to conclude his Swiss trip, the first official visit by a Russian head of a state to the Alpine land.
Medvedev is to travel to New York, which hosts the United Nations General Assembly.
