Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Blix calls for Swiss help on nuclear issues

This content was published on May 1, 2007 Speaking after meeting Swiss Defence Minister Samuel Schmid on Tuesday, Blix said that the Swiss had a lot of technical expertise at their disposal. For his part, Schmid said that stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction was a “central concern” for the future. Blix said that small countries like Switzerland and Sweden could…

Swiss Politics

Swiss guards may patrol southern EU borders

This content was published on May 1, 2007 The guards would be part of the EU’s Rapid Border Intervention Teams (Rabit), which is aimed at helping countries tackle the problem. The sight of hundreds of weary-looking illegal immigrants landing in rickety boats on the EU’s southern shores has become much more commonplace in recent years. Thousands make it to land, especially in the…

Swiss Politics

Young people remain rooted in ancient traditions

This content was published on Apr 30, 2007 swissinfo met a group of young people at this annual open-air assembly of citizens to hear what makes them feel proud of their local customs and their remote hilly region in northeastern Switzerland. In some ways Sunday’s Landsgemeinde was the political and social highlight of the year for many in Appenzell Inner Rhodes – one…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland promotes e-voting in US

This content was published on Apr 25, 2007 The series of events aimed at American experts and decision-makers began this week and, if successful, could prove to be big business for the Swiss cantons that own the systems concerned. Bern’s man in the US, Urs Ziswiler, told swissinfo that there is a certain reluctance to accept e-voting in the States. “The Americans are…

Swiss Politics

Geneva puts positive spin on UN staff exodus

This content was published on Apr 24, 2007 Last week it emerged that the UN refugee agency is to relocate 155 of its 900 staff, most likely to Asia, in an effort to cut costs. The World Health Organization is also relocating a number of Geneva-based functions abroad but says it is unable to put a figure on how many staff will be…

Swiss Politics

French voters in Switzerland lean to the right

This content was published on Apr 23, 2007 But had the election been left to French voters in Switzerland, centrist Francois Bayrou would have made it into the second round. More than 76,500 French nationals living in Switzerland, the largest French expatriate community in the world, had been expected to vote in Sunday’s presidential elections – almost three times the number in 2002.…

Swiss Politics

Gains for Greens as climate fears grow

This content was published on Apr 20, 2007 The third election barometer by the gfs.bern institute shows a fear among Swiss voters over the effects of climate change, with nearly 60 per cent saying they feel threatened. It forecasts that the rightwing Swiss People’s Party will continue to be the biggest party in parliament, maintaining its level of support. The other three parties…

Swiss Politics

UN leader pays first visit to Switzerland

This content was published on Apr 19, 2007 His first trip to Switzerland – home of the UN’s European headquarters – more than three months into his mandate has been criticised by some Geneva staff members as neglecting the city’s importance within the organisation. In Bern on Thursday, Ban met Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey as well as Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin and Defence…

Swiss Politics

Conference offers glimmer of hope for refugees

This content was published on Apr 18, 2007 As a conference on refugees ended on Wednesday, Switzerland said it was prepared to organise a follow-up meeting to coordinate assistance to Iraqis forced to flee to neighbouring countries. The two-day international conference in Geneva focused on the plight of nearly four million Iraqis who have been driven from their homes. “It would be prudent…

Swiss Politics

Greens are biggest winner on cantonal scene

This content was published on Apr 16, 2007 During the past three years, the Greens have won 57 additional seats, bringing their overall tally to 190. Their total share of seats in cantonal parliaments now stands at 7.24 per cent. But the figures do not take the Zurich Green Liberals into account, who gained ten seats in weekend voting. Political commentators, such as…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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