Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Swiss lend support to Kofi Annan’s new forum

This content was published on Apr 15, 2007 Reacting to newspaper reports on Sunday, a spokesman said the ministry was working in this direction with different partners, with Annan expected to play a leading role. Johann Aeschlimann told the AP news agency that the project was in its first phase of development and that it was still too early to say what form…

Swiss Politics

Schmid underlines Swiss Afghanistan position

This content was published on Apr 14, 2007 Despite a US appeal earlier this week to Nato countries for reinforcements in Afghanistan, Schmid said he had ruled out sending extra Swiss troops to the troubled area. Discussions with his US counterpart Robert Gates and the number two at the Pentagon, Gordon England, had been constructive and had taken place in a friendly atmosphere,…

Swiss Politics

Swiss told to “make an effort” in tax dispute

This content was published on Apr 12, 2007 He also said that while no pressure was being put on Switzerland to join the European Union, an isolated country had no political influence and no future in an age of globalisation. However, the former Portuguese Prime Minister emphasised the “excellent” relations between the EU and Switzerland, pointing to Swiss voters’ approval in November of…

Swiss Politics

ICRC says Iraq situation is deteriorating

This content was published on Apr 11, 2007 The Swiss-run organisation said on Wednesday that this was despite security in some places improving as a result of stepped-up efforts by US-led multinational forces. “It is clear that the security situation has improved in certain instances,” said Pierre Krähenbühl, director of operations of the ICRC, who highlighted southern Iraq in particular. However, the overall…

Swiss Politics

EU issues dominate Calmy-Rey talks in Poland

This content was published on Apr 11, 2007 The money is part of Bern’s SFr1 billion ($800 million) payment to the ten member states that joined the European Union in May 2004, an amount approved by Swiss voters last November. On Tuesday – the first day of Calmy-Rey’s two-day visit – the foreign minister discussed international and bilateral issues with Polish President Lech…

Swiss Politics

Cantons unanimous on keeping EU option open

This content was published on Apr 10, 2007 They also advise caution when negotiating further bilateral accords with the EU – Bern’s preferred way in its relations with Brussels. In a statement published on Tuesday, the 26 cantons – which held a Conference of Cantonal Governments at the end of March – said they were very sceptical about going further down the bilateral…

Swiss Politics

Parties prepare to dig deep

This content was published on Apr 9, 2007 But while the outlay for their local sections will be even bigger, the amounts injected into the campaign are tiny compared with countries like the United States. The centre-right Radical Party has already budgeted SFr1.3 million for the elections. According to its general-secretary Guido Schommer, the party’s cantonal sections will invest a “multiple” of the…

Leuthard eyes up free trade deal with China

This content was published on Apr 8, 2007 Leuthard told the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper she would lead a large business delegation to China in June, and try to give support so that China opened negotiations with Switzerland. China is already in free trade talks with Iceland and will start talks with Norway, Leuthard said. Both countries are members of the four-state European…

Swiss Politics

Ballot box option attracts Swiss expats

This content was published on Apr 5, 2007 More than 110,000 Swiss living abroad are expected to cast their vote in October’s parliamentary election – the highest number ever. Linder, who is director of Bern University’s political science institute, has explored the possibilities of giving the Swiss abroad a greater say in politics in Switzerland as they could offer a different perspective. The…

Swiss Politics

European Union embassy opens for business

This content was published on Apr 3, 2007 But the EU’s relationship with Switzerland is overshadowed by a dispute over the Swiss cantonal corporate tax system, which the union says is unfair. “This day has finally arrived,” said the EU’s external relations commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, in Bern on Tuesday. For Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey, the opening of a permanent EU office in…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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