Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Calmy-Rey wants greater Swiss influence abroad

This content was published on Aug 21, 2006 She supported the idea of a Swiss seat in the United Nations Security Council and defended her position of “active” Swiss neutrality at the annual conference of Swiss ambassadors in Bern, which opened on Monday. “Switzerland doesn’t have the critical mass to resolve crises on its own,” she commented. “Without influence in the Security Council,…

Swiss Politics

Taking lessons from the justice minister

This content was published on Aug 21, 2006 The Saturday “lesson” ended a week of public appearances by the rightwing politician, in which he argued in favour of harsher asylum and immigration policies to be voted on in a referendum next month. It felt a bit like sitting in a classroom. Instead of a regular teacher there was the Swiss justice minister himself,…

Swiss Politics

Swiss expatriates support tougher asylum rules

This content was published on Aug 18, 2006 Meeting in Basel the assembly also criticised the slow progress in introducing electronic voting and the closure of several consulates in Switzerland’s diplomatic network. The president of the Swiss Abroad Council, Georg Stucky, said the result of the consultative vote on the asylum and foreigners laws – 38 votes in favour, 26 against –came as…

Swiss Politics

Blocher says asylum policy is working

This content was published on Aug 18, 2006 Blocher’s announcement comes ahead of a referendum on September 24 on stricter asylum measures. Blocher, from the rightwing Swiss People’s Party, said the policy had achieved its target of reducing the number of asylum seekers making groundless applications. He said the number of asylum seekers had dropped by 12.5 per cent and that SFr92 million…

Swiss Politics

Explosives hamper return of Lebanese civilians

This content was published on Aug 17, 2006 The Swiss branch of the non-governmental group, Handicap International, and the foreign ministry’s aid agency have sent experts to assess the situation. “We have dispatched several de-mining specialists to the region,” Paul Vermeulen, director of the Geneva-based group said on Thursday. He added that United Nations experts had identified about ten sites where the Israeli…

Swiss Politics

Schmid affirms Swiss commitment to Kosovo

This content was published on Aug 16, 2006 Schmid also visited Swiss soldiers deployed in Kosovo as part of a Nato-led peacekeeping force, as well as those that are part of a European Union mission. The minister’s trip to the region comes as the new United Nations chief of mission for Kosovo, Joachim Rücker, ruled out partition of the troubled province. The ethnic…

Swiss Politics

More cash needed for Lebanon aid operation

This content was published on Aug 15, 2006 Officials said they are re-assessing the needs of the Lebanese population and will shift the focus of aid operations following the ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militia. Toni Frisch, head of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) said the additional money was intended for relief efforts of United Nations agencies and Swiss aid organisations.…

Swiss Politics

Coalition rejects “inhumane” asylum law

This content was published on Aug 14, 2006 The “Coalition for a Humanitarian Switzerland”, representing 36 non-governmental organisations, claims that it could realistically win the September referendum despite limited financial means. The alliance is highly critical of the new law, which is says “generates lots of hot air, is inhumane, attacks the wrong target, exacerbates the criminalisation of asylum seekers and overburdens the…

Swiss Politics

Voters still divided over harsher asylum law

This content was published on Aug 13, 2006 The new law, which cuts benefits for asylum seekers, comes to a nationwide vote on September 24, along with new legislation on immigration. Thirty per cent of voters are opposed to tightening the existing legislation on asylum and 27 per cent are still undecided. The poll, conducted by the Swiss Institute of Public Opinion and…

Swiss Politics

Swiss eye Cuban situation with interest

This content was published on Aug 10, 2006 Bern has a particular interest in the republic as it represents the interests of the United States in Havana and those of Cuba in Washington. Despite all the confusion about what is really happening in the Cuban hierarchy, ties between Bern and Havana remain on an even keel. Castro recently told the nation that his…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Popular Stories

Most Discussed