Cluster: Geopolitics

Switzerland launches UN cooperation initiative

This content was published on Jun 13, 2016 The initiative, which was announced as the Human Rights Council began its summer session on Monday, aims to strengthen the United Nations’ ability to prevent conflict by more systematically raising human rights issues in debates on security policy. “We call for strengthening the ties between human rights and development as well as peace and security…

Foreign Affairs

Swiss slip in small arms transparency ranking

This content was published on Jun 7, 2016 For the first time since 2007, Switzerland gave up the top spot in the Small Arms Survey’s latest evaluation of the most transparent small arms exporters. “Its lower score in comparison with previous years reflects less complete reporting to United Nations Comtrade [UN Commodity Trade Statistics Database] and a lack of information on licence denials,”…

Foreign Affairs

Swiss back efforts to revive Middle East peace process

This content was published on Jun 3, 2016 “We are ready to contribute to this new dynamic towards a just and long-lasting peace … which is based on a negotiated two-state solution,” he declared at the opening of an international conference in Paris on Friday. France convened foreign ministers from major powers to try to put Israeli-Palestinian peace-making back on the international agenda…

Foreign Affairs

On Swiss visit, Kurdish leader criticises Europe’s inaction

This content was published on Jun 2, 2016 Selahattin Demirtas, leader of the Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party HDP, is an outspoken critics of the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He pointed out that European criticism of Erdogan’s repression of the Kurds has been silent since the European Union made a deal to send migrants back to Turkey earlier this year. Germany…

Foreign Affairs

First batch of Ben Ali funds returned to Tunisia

This content was published on Jun 2, 2016 The funds are believed to have once belonged to a nephew of Ben Ali, according to the AFP press agency. Following the overthrow of Ben Ali in the Jasmine Revolution of 2011, the Swiss authorities froze CHF60 million held in Swiss accounts. The assets were suspected of being “laundered” or gained via “participation in a…

Foreign Affairs

Are the ‘rules of war’ in crisis?

This content was published on May 23, 2016 On May 3, the UN Security Council demanded that hospitals and clinics be protected in war zones, in a resolution that draws attention to the rise in attacks on medical workers in conflicts worldwide. So, are the “rules of war” in a crisis? Helen Durham, international law and policy director at the Swiss-run International Committee…

Foreign Affairs

Protesters march against agrichemicals

This content was published on May 21, 2016 Demonstrators marched from Basel’s city centre to the headquarters of agribusiness group Syngenta which produces chemicals and seeds. The protestors called on the Swiss government to ensure that multinational companies respect the right to food. China’s state-run ChemChina has offered to purchase the company for $43 billion (CHF42.6 billion). The organisers say the aim of…

Foreign Affairs

Jihadist extremism a ‘very limited phenomenon’ in Switzerland

This content was published on May 19, 2016 Just how appealing are jihadi, rightwing and leftwing extremism to Swiss youngsters? This was the main theme of a conference organised on Wednesday by the social services department of Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW). To gauge sentiment, ZHAW carried out a mini survey among 200 former ZHAW students and academics in attendance. The results…

Foreign Affairs

Swiss to watch over future Colombia peace deal

This content was published on May 19, 2016 In a statement released on Thursday, the ministry said it supports the ongoing negotiations between the two sides and welcomes their recent declaration on the peace agreement. On May 12, Colombia’s government and FARC rebels agreed on a series of legal mechanisms to ensure any peace deal agreed at negotiations will be constitutionally binding if…

Foreign Affairs

Stories of torture in Syria shock Swiss students

This content was published on May 18, 2016 Speaking to students at a Bern secondary school, refugees describe the brutal torture they were subjected to before fleeing Syria.

Cluster: Geopolitics

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Cluster: Geopolitics

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Switzerland launches UN cooperation initiative

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Swiss slip in small arms transparency ranking

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Swiss back efforts to revive Middle East peace process

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On Swiss visit, Kurdish leader criticises Europe’s inaction

More

First batch of Ben Ali funds returned to Tunisia

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Are the ‘rules of war’ in crisis?

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Protesters march against agrichemicals

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Jihadist extremism a ‘very limited phenomenon’ in Switzerland

More

Swiss to watch over future Colombia peace deal

More

Stories of torture in Syria shock Swiss students

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