Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Switzerland and Russia pursue “fruitful” dialogue

This content was published on Sep 7, 2009 Ambühl, the state secretary at the Swiss foreign ministry, spoke to swissinfo.ch ahead of an historic visit by Russian President Dmitri Medvedev later this month. It comes at a time when Switzerland has been under attack over banking secrecy and has found little support internationally over its diplomatic problems with Libya. It will be the…

Swiss Politics

Libyan promise a “misunderstanding”

This content was published on Sep 6, 2009 In an interview with the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper, deputy foreign minister, Khaled Kaim said Switzerland’s expectation to see the two men come home was likely based on a “misunderstanding”. “Our prime minister promised to undertake some action before the end of August,” Kaim told the newspaper. He said Libya kept its word by allowing…

Swiss Politics

Second World War mobilisation remembered

This content was published on Sep 5, 2009 On September 2, 1939, the Swiss government ordered the mobilisation of 400,000 militia soldiers. The average Swiss man on active duty served 800 days, Maurer said, speaking in an army museum in the village of Full near the German border. “That left its mark not only on the soldiers, but the entire population.” He added…

Swiss Politics

Protesters show solidarity with Swiss hostages

This content was published on Sep 4, 2009 The federal government this week urged Libya to comply with an accord with Switzerland and allow two Swiss businessmen, held for 412 days, to leave the country. “The government did exactly what it had to do,” Stephane Valente, the organiser of the demonstration and local Swiss People’s Party councillor, told swissinfo.ch. “It’s now up to…

Swiss Politics

E-voting starts for Swiss abroad

This content was published on Sep 4, 2009 Under a scheme adopted in canton Geneva around 15,600 Swiss abroad are eligible to vote online from Friday for the first time on the two issues of disability insurance and public education. The e-vote ends on September 26. A questionnaire will be sent to users after the vote to find out how the option is…

Swiss Politics

Gaddafi’s Libya

This content was published on Sep 4, 2009 On September 1, 1969, a small group of military officers led by then 27-year-old army officer Moammar Gaddafi overthrew Libya’s King Idris’ government. The revolutionary officers abolished the monarchy, and proclaimed the new republic. Gaddafi is to this day, referred to as the “Brother Leader and Guide of the Revolution” in government statements and the…

Swiss still attached to consensus politics

This content was published on Sep 3, 2009 A survey conducted by a leading research institute also found a majority in favour of extending the role of Swiss president but rejecting plans to choose cabinet ministers in a nationwide election rather than by parliament. Four out of five respondents approved the idea of cross-party cooperation, while clear majorities also came out in favour…

Swiss Politics

Poll shows demand for cuts in health costs

This content was published on Sep 3, 2009 The most popular ideas were to limit the number of prescriptions and the number of expensive treatments used by top-end medicine, as well as to cut the price of medicines and reduce the number of pharmacies. But people are not in favour of paying a fee when they go to see their doctor, according to…

Swiss Politics

OECD praises Swiss tax efforts

This content was published on Sep 3, 2009 A meeting of the OECD in Mexico took note of the progress made by Switzerland to meet standards for cooperation on tax matters, namely that it had initialled 14 double taxation agreements and signed four of them. The agreements all conform to Article 26 of the OECD’s Model Tax Convention, which creates an obligation for…

Swiss Politics

Libyan anti-Swiss motion rejected

This content was published on Sep 3, 2009 Farhan Haq told the Swiss News Agency that Libya had submitted the proposal for discussion by the General Assembly. It was thrown out by the committee responsible for setting the assembly’s agenda, since it contradicted the principles of the UN charter. According to the charter, no member country can threaten the existence or sovereignty of…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Switzerland and Russia pursue “fruitful” dialogue

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Libyan promise a “misunderstanding”

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Second World War mobilisation remembered

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Protesters show solidarity with Swiss hostages

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E-voting starts for Swiss abroad

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Gaddafi’s Libya

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Swiss still attached to consensus politics

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Poll shows demand for cuts in health costs

More

OECD praises Swiss tax efforts

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Libyan anti-Swiss motion rejected

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