Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Royal guests and Swiss hosts find similarities

This content was published on Apr 5, 2006 Both sides highlighted the many similarities between Switzerland – in the heart of Europe – and the Scandinavian country. The royal couple was given a reception with military honours in parliament square in the capital, Bern, on Wednesday. Despite the wintry weather several hundred people watched the ceremony which was attended by all seven members…

Swiss Politics

Swiss double Sri Lanka tsunami aid

This content was published on Apr 5, 2006 The commitment came during a two-day visit to the country by senior Swiss aid officials and the charity Swiss Solidarity to assess the progress of reconstruction efforts. The money has been earmarked for post-tsunami rebuilding work in the southern district of Matara and the eastern area of Trincomalee, where a consortium of Swiss agencies is…

Swiss Politics

Italian expats gear up for home elections

This content was published on Apr 5, 2006 Italians living abroad have been granted the right to vote for their own representatives as well as to put themselves forward as candidates for a seat in parliament. A 2001 law enables the more than 3.5 million Italian immigrants around the world to cast a postal ballot for their own candidates in the elections, which…

Swiss Politics

Swiss request seat on new UN rights body

This content was published on Apr 4, 2006 Declaring its candidacy, Switzerland pledged to ensure the council became “a strong and effective body capable of protecting and promoting all human rights everywhere”. The Swiss, who played a central role in the creation of the new rights body, called on fellow UN member states to support its candidacy when elections for the 47-strong council…

Swiss Politics

Fight against landmines goes on

This content was published on Apr 4, 2006 According to the Landmine Monitor Report, mines and unexploded ordinance kill or maim between 15,000 and 20,000 adults and children a year. Speaking in Geneva on Monday, Swiss diplomat Jürg Streuli said landmines remained a major problem worldwide despite the 1997 Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of anti-personnel mines. He…

Swiss Politics

Expatriates seek impact on Swiss politics

This content was published on Apr 3, 2006 The decision comes as the number of Swiss abroad entitled to take part in votes and elections has passed 100,000 for the first time. “The expatriate community has come of age and could with its political weight – in theory – force a nationwide vote,” said Georg Stucky, president of the Organisation of the Swiss…

Swiss Politics

Fifth Switzerland holds forth in Bern

This content was published on Apr 1, 2006 The many speakers will concentrate on Swiss expatriates’ priorities and prospects when it comes to participating in the political life of their country. The setting of Saturday’s discussion, the federal parliament, could not be more appropriate for what has often been termed the “Parliament of the Fifth Switzerland”. This year the subject of the council’s…

Swiss Politics

US fingers Swiss firm for North Korean ties

This content was published on Mar 31, 2006 The Treasury Department designated Kohas AG, an import-export firm based in Fribourg, as a supporter of weapons proliferation and ordered the freezing of any assets it may hold in the US. The department alleged that Kohas has financial ties to a North Korean company, Korea Ryonbong General Corporation. The US government froze the Korean firm’s…

Swiss Politics

Zurich feels ambivalent about Europe

This content was published on Mar 30, 2006 But the economy would clearly benefit from maintaining the current approach through bilateral treaties between Switzerland and Brussels. Zurich, one of the country’s 26 cantons, is the economic hub of Switzerland and home to about one sixth of the population. It also claims to be a pillar of the country’s agriculture sector. The report, published…

Swiss Politics

Bern threatens sanctions against Belarus

This content was published on Mar 28, 2006 It added that if there was no improvement in the political situation in the country, it would consider imposing sanctions – following similar moves by other countries. In a statement released on Monday, the Swiss foreign ministry said it “reiterates the regrets that it expressed after the presidential election, which did not meet recognised international…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Cluster: Swiss Abroad

More

Royal guests and Swiss hosts find similarities

More

Swiss double Sri Lanka tsunami aid

More

Italian expats gear up for home elections

More

Swiss request seat on new UN rights body

More

Fight against landmines goes on

More

Expatriates seek impact on Swiss politics

More

Fifth Switzerland holds forth in Bern

More

US fingers Swiss firm for North Korean ties

More

Zurich feels ambivalent about Europe

More

Bern threatens sanctions against Belarus

Popular Stories

Most Discussed