Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Swiss deplore “excessive” reaction to Iran talks

This content was published on Apr 21, 2009 It follows Israel’s decision on Monday to recall its ambassador to Bern, Ilan Elgar, for “consultations” following the meeting of the heads of state ahead of the United Nations racism conference in Geneva. “The foreign ministry has received confirmation of the recall of the Israeli ambassador to Switzerland,” it said in a statement. “The ministry…

Swiss Politics

Ahmadinejad sparks walkout in Geneva

This content was published on Apr 20, 2009 Ahmadinejad’s appearance has overshadowed the substance of the weeklong United Nations racism conference, dubbed Durban II, which aims to provide a blueprint for combating intolerance and discrimination worldwide. Durban II, which runs until Friday, is the sequel to a divisive 2001 gathering in Durban, South Africa, and will not include Barack Obama, the first black…

Swiss Politics

Contentious UN racism meeting begins in Geneva

This content was published on Apr 20, 2009 The four-day meeting in the Swiss city of Geneva is the sequel to a divisive 2001 gathering in Durban, South Africa, and will not include Barack Obama, the first black president of the United States. The US, along with Canada, Israel, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Germany pulled out of the UN’s second…

Swiss Politics

More western countries shun Geneva conference

This content was published on Apr 19, 2009 The Obama administration on Saturday said it would “with regret” boycott the conference over objectionable language in the meeting’s final document that could single out Israel for criticism and restrict free speech. On Sunday, Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen said in a strongly worded statement that some countries were planning to use the summit as…

Swiss Politics

Swiss offer support in US-Iran dialogue

This content was published on Apr 19, 2009 But in a written interview with swissinfo, she cautions that any rapprochement between Washington and Tehran will take time. Leu Agosti, who has been in her post since the beginning of the year, voices concerns over Iran’s difficult human rights situation. She says she remains convinced that dialogue with the Iranian authorities is the best…

Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey wraps up West Africa trip

This content was published on Apr 18, 2009 Calmy-Rey visited an agricultural development project funded by Switzerland near the capital, Ouagadougou, after meeting with Burkina Faso’s president, Blaise Compaoré, on Friday evening. The foreign minister also visited Nigeria and Mali on her trip. Mali and Burkina Faso are on the list of so-called “priority countries” by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland to attend UN racism summit

This content was published on Apr 18, 2009 Officials said the composition of the delegation would be announced later on, leaving open the question of whether or not Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey would attend the opening of the Durban Review Conference. The meeting is a follow-up to the controversial World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South…

Swiss Politics

No invite to next OECD tax meeting

This content was published on Apr 18, 2009 The states invited to the June 23 meeting will be the same ones who attended the previous gathering of the 30-member body, in Paris. “It is not about excluding Switzerland,” said Jeanette Schwamberger, a finance ministry spokeswoman, on Saturday. Schwamberger said it was not clear whether there would be a possibility of Switzerland attending. On…

Swiss Politics

Success of UN racism summit up in the air

This content was published on Apr 17, 2009 The Durban Review Conference, or Durban II, continues to divide opinions and raise passions. The run-up has been bumpy, with states threatening to stay away and a behind-the-scenes race against the clock to reach consensus over a draft declaration. Earlier this week UN spokeswoman Marie Heuzé set the tone for the Durban II meeting, which…

Swiss Politics

Hunger for organic foods proves hard to satisfy

This content was published on Apr 17, 2009 At the same time, not all organic farmers are benefiting from the “bio” boom. 2008 was the organic food industry’s strongest ever year in Switzerland, with an 11.2 per cent increase in turnover to SFr1.44 billion ($1.24 billion), according to the organic farmers umbrella group, Bio Suisse. In particular, organic fruit, meat and dairy products…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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