Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Switzerland overhauls its “good offices”

This content was published on Apr 10, 2008 Thomas Greminger says it is worth it as peace promotion is beginning to bear fruit, with fewer conflicts being re-ignited despite the occasional high-profile failure. The official is convinced Switzerland is ideally positioned to pursue an important role in helping broker peace deals. Since 2000 it has been involved in 20 mediation processes in 15…

Swiss Politics

Swiss help promote dialogue in Cyprus

This content was published on Apr 9, 2008 The project forms part of efforts to overcome economic and social disparities within the European Union, said the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) on Wednesday. The centre will be located in the buffer zone that separates the Greek and Turkish Cypriot populations. It aims to promote dialogue between the two by holding cultural…

Swiss Politics

Jewish group attacks Swiss-Iranian gas deal

This content was published on Apr 8, 2008 The Swiss foreign ministry for its part repeated that the agreement violates neither United Nations Security Council resolutions imposing sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme or US laws. “As the Swiss government pursues its own narrow economic interests, it is bankrolling the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism,” declared one of the messages in the…

Swiss Politics

Rights’ records come under UN gaze

This content was published on Apr 7, 2008 Observers are warning the council’s credibility depends on the success of the new mechanism. Switzerland is due to go before the review on May 8. Over the next two weeks, the first 16 countries will have their human rights records examined by a UPR working group, including Bahrain, Britain, India, Brazil, Algeria, South Africa, and…

Swiss Politics

OSCE calls for more transparency in funding

This content was published on Apr 6, 2008 It made the recommendation in a report on last October’s Swiss parliamentary elections. The Vienna-based organisation, of which Switzerland is a member, said the issue of financing had become “increasingly controversial” in the country. An OSCE mission invited to observe the elections said many people had indicated that undisclosed funding allowed powerful interest groups and…

Swiss Politics

People’s Party backs ultimatum action

This content was published on Apr 5, 2008 At a meeting in Lungern in central Switzerland, they gave a round of applause to a vote on Friday by the party’s central committee approving an ultimatum for her to step down. There was no debate on the ultimatum at Saturday’s meeting. Neither Widmer-Schlumpf nor Defence Minister Samuel Schmid, also under pressure from the party,…

Swiss Politics

Pre-schoolers missing out on education

This content was published on Apr 4, 2008 With only 23 per cent of three to four year olds attending some form of pre-school in 2003, Swiss children have a lot of catching up to do with their European counterparts. The European average was 65 per cent. The aim of the Unesco study is to establish the state of affairs in all Switzerland’s…

Swiss Politics

Experts seek path to Cyprus reunification

This content was published on Apr 4, 2008 The specialists are meeting in Aarau in northwestern Switzerland to prepare guidelines aimed at helping both sides find a solution to the conflict themselves, and end the division that began more three decades ago. “Both sides want a fresh start and have shown they want to negotiate again,” Auer told swissinfo ahead of the meeting…

Swiss Politics

Pledge to boost economic conditions

This content was published on Apr 4, 2008 The targets will underpin its 2008-2011 economic strategy for promoting sustainable growth and raising the gross domestic product from five to ten per cent, the cabinet announced on Thursday. To tackle high prices, the government wants to strengthen competition within the domestic market and open it up further to foreign goods. Business needed to be…

Swiss Politics

Minister rejects demands to step down

This content was published on Apr 3, 2008 On Thursday Widmer-Schlumpf rejected an ultimatum from the People’s Party leadership to leave the party or be pushed. She was warned on Wednesday that if she failed to comply by a deadline of April 11, the leadership would instruct the branch of the party in her home canton of Graubünden to expel her. “I will…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Cluster: Swiss Abroad

More

Switzerland overhauls its “good offices”

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Swiss help promote dialogue in Cyprus

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Jewish group attacks Swiss-Iranian gas deal

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Rights’ records come under UN gaze

More

OSCE calls for more transparency in funding

More

People’s Party backs ultimatum action

More

Pre-schoolers missing out on education

More

Experts seek path to Cyprus reunification

More

Pledge to boost economic conditions

More

Minister rejects demands to step down

Popular Stories

Most Discussed