Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Swiss ambassador in Washington is a busy man

This content was published on Jul 1, 2007 He told swissinfo that since taking office he had received five out of seven members of the Swiss cabinet, as well as two state secretaries, the president of the Swiss National Bank and other high-ranking officials. In the first two months of his stay in the United States capital, three major agreements were signed between…

Swiss Politics

Domestic violence faces tougher legislation

This content was published on Jun 30, 2007 But specialists are warning that while the new rules, which include the possibility of excluding violent partners from homes, represents major progress, it will not be effective unless the cantons are prepared to apply it fully. As of Sunday, victims of violence, threats or harassment will no longer have to leave their residence to protect…

Swiss Politics

Silent majority always wins Swiss ballots

This content was published on Jun 30, 2007 This practice of abstaining is in stark contrast to the traditional image of direct democracy where people participate actively in political decisions. Citizens in Switzerland can vote three to four times per year on a wide range of issues as part of their democratic rights. Ballots not only take place on a nationwide, but also…

Swiss Politics

Socialists tackle global issues in Geneva

This content was published on Jun 30, 2007 Around 400 left-leaning delegates are attending the session, which opened on Friday with an address from Swiss cabinet minister Moritz Leuenberger, a member of the centre-left Social Democratic Party. Among those taking part are leading players from the Middle East, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Lebanon’s Walid Jumblatt, leader of…

Swiss Politics

Poll confirms steady progress of Greens

This content was published on Jun 30, 2007 This is in contrast to leftwing and rightwing parties, which continue to lose votes, signalling the end to the polarisation that has marked the Swiss political landscape since 1995. The fourth election barometer carried out by the gfs.bern institute on behalf of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation – swissinfo’s parent company – shows that the Green…

Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey says Switzerland is no “political dwarf”

This content was published on Jun 29, 2007 Calmy-Rey, who is also the foreign minister, said the country was pursuing an “active, coherent and successful” foreign policy and Swiss neutrality was enabling it to actively promote peace while safeguarding its own interests. “Switzerland talks with one voice abroad,” she said. She made the comments in Bern on Friday at a presentation of four…

Swiss Politics

ICRC condemns abuses in Myanmar

This content was published on Jun 29, 2007 In a rare public rebuke of a country, the organisation says the government is guilty of repeated violations of international humanitarian law and is refusing all entreaties to put a stop to them. “The persistent use of detainees as porters for the armed forces is a matter of grave humanitarian concern,” said ICRC president Jakob…

Swiss Politics

Marty slams “wall of silence” over CIA jails

This content was published on Jun 27, 2007 In a report earlier this month Senator Dick Marty said the CIA ran secret jails in Poland and Romania to interrogate key terror suspects after the 2001 attacks on the United States. The report – the former prosecutor’s second into the affair – was approved on Wednesday by the parliamentary assembly of the Strasbourg-based Council…

Swiss Politics

Zurich e-voting system wins UN award

This content was published on Jun 26, 2007 The innovative pilot project was launched in 2002 in cooperation with the government and cantons Geneva and Neuchâtel, and was completed last year. The UN awards were presented in Vienna on Tuesday during the seventh Global Forum on Reinventing Government. The Swiss won their award in the category for “fostering participation in policy-making decisions through…

Swiss Politics

Gaza faces humanitarian “nightmare”

This content was published on Jun 26, 2007 On Monday the United Nations called for the re-opening of a key border crossing between Gaza and Israel to avert such a disaster and the collapse of the economy in the Palestinian enclave. The UN provides food aid for 860,000 Palestinian refugees in Gaza but the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned of shortages of…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Cluster: Swiss Abroad

More

Swiss ambassador in Washington is a busy man

More

Domestic violence faces tougher legislation

More

Silent majority always wins Swiss ballots

More

Socialists tackle global issues in Geneva

More

Poll confirms steady progress of Greens

More

Calmy-Rey says Switzerland is no “political dwarf”

More

ICRC condemns abuses in Myanmar

More

Marty slams “wall of silence” over CIA jails

More

Zurich e-voting system wins UN award

More

Gaza faces humanitarian “nightmare”

Popular Stories

Most Discussed