Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Calmy-Rey urges Sri Lankans to find peace

This content was published on Oct 12, 2004 Speaking during an official visit to the troubled island, she said both the Sri Lankan government and rebel Tamil Tigers needed to head back to the negotiating table. “I have the impression that the ceasefire could be in danger,” said Calmy-Rey on Tuesday. She added that a “lack of confidence” was preventing both parties from…

Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey outlines goals for Sri Lanka visit

This content was published on Oct 7, 2004 Negotiations between the Sri Lankan government and rebel Tamil Tigers have been at a standstill since April last year. Calmy-Rey told swissinfo on Thursday that she aimed “to speak about the peace plan and about the current difficult situation.” Meetings are planned with Sri Lanka’s president, prime minister and foreign minister, along with representatives of…

Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey talks peace with Sri Lankan president

This content was published on Oct 7, 2004 Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey made the pledge during a meeting with Sri Lanka’s president, Chandrika Kumaratunga, on Monday. Negotiations between the Sri Lankan government and rebel Tamil Tigers have been at a standstill since April last year. During her meeting with Kumaratunga in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, Calmy-Rey said Switzerland was ready to…

Swiss Politics

Swiss ponder question of Turkish entry into EU

This content was published on Oct 7, 2004 A senior Swiss diplomat said Bern’s policy on Europe would not be affected, but on Thursday many newspapers begged to differ. State Secretary Franz von Däniken made his comments in Brussels after the European Commission recommended the start of accession talks with Ankara. The EU cautioned, however, that talks could be suspended if Turkey backtracked…

Swiss Politics

People’s Party demands end to dual nationality

This content was published on Oct 6, 2004 It comes after Swiss voters rejected moves to make it easier for young foreigners to become naturalised. The People’s Party announced its intentions on September 26, shortly after the vote. Its leaders want parliament to repeal the 1992 law on dual citizenship, which allows freshly minted citizens to keep their old passports. Previously, new Swiss…

Swiss Politics

Swiss and Bosnian presidents hail progress

This content was published on Oct 5, 2004 But speaking after talks with the country’s president, Sulejman Tihic, he cautioned that there was still work to be done. Deiss said on Tuesday that the meeting in Bern had focused largely on development aid and economic ties between the two countries. Bosnia-Herzegovina, which is still recovering from the effects of a war which ended…

Swiss Politics

Rifts appear in power-sharing government

This content was published on Oct 4, 2004 Couchepin broke cabinet ranks on Sunday, branding Justice Minister Christoph Blocher – a member of the rightwing Swiss People’s Party – a danger to democracy. A public spat between members of the country’s seven-strong cabinet is practically unheard of in Switzerland, where disputes normally take place behind closed doors. Under the principle of “collegiality”, it…

Swiss Politics

Parliament sharpens knife for army spending cuts

This content was published on Oct 4, 2004 On Tuesday the Senate voted to cut the proposed SFr647 million ($511 million) budget by SFr129 million. Major sticking points had been the planned purchase of two transport aircraft, a dozen armoured vehicles, new helmets, software and simulators. Prior to the debate, the Senate’s security commission expressed serious doubts about the value of buying a…

Swiss Politics

Government hands bilateral accords to parliament

This content was published on Oct 1, 2004 The package of treaties is expected to be voted on in December, but it is likely that the electorate will have the final say in a nationwide vote next year. The Swiss president, Joseph Deiss, said the new set of accords with Brussels was the only way for the country to avoid isolation in Europe.…

Swiss Politics

Regal timepiece heads for auction

This content was published on Sep 30, 2004 It was made by the oldest manufacturer of watches in the world, Vacheron Constantin, which celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2005. To mark the event, Geneva auction house Antiquorum is organising a special auction of 250 Vacheron Constantin timepieces, which span the history of the company from its beginnings in 1755 to the present day.…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Calmy-Rey urges Sri Lankans to find peace

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Calmy-Rey outlines goals for Sri Lanka visit

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Calmy-Rey talks peace with Sri Lankan president

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Swiss ponder question of Turkish entry into EU

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People’s Party demands end to dual nationality

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Swiss and Bosnian presidents hail progress

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Rifts appear in power-sharing government

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Parliament sharpens knife for army spending cuts

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Government hands bilateral accords to parliament

More

Regal timepiece heads for auction

Popular Stories

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