Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Zurich cools towards Chinese sister city

This content was published on Nov 26, 2000 The vote was called by two members of the right-wing Swiss People’s Party. They came out against a move by the city parliament to cut Zurich’s annual credit to Kunming from SFr2.4 million to SFr.1.3 million next year, saying funding should be stopped altogether. Since the sister city agreement was reached in 1982, Zurich has…

Swiss Politics

Swiss votes reveal deep cultural divisions between regions

This content was published on Nov 26, 2000 With all results counted, voters clearly turned down a proposal to cut army spending, and two initiatives to introduce a more flexible retirement age. The results on the defence issue indicated a division between German-speaking cantons and most French-speaking cantons, which came out in favour of slashing spending. There were also considerable differences over the…

Swiss Politics

Green party nominates successor for Ogi

This content was published on Nov 25, 2000 The 51-year-old politician from Lucerne has been a member of the House of Representatives since 1991. The president of the Green Party, Ruedi Baumann, told a news conference in Bern on Saturday that Bühlmann was to help “drive the Swiss People’s Party” out of government. He added that she was “a real alternative to the…

Swiss Politics

ABB signs electricity deal with North Korea

This content was published on Nov 24, 2000 The official North Korean news agency said the agreement also covered cooperation in producing electric machines and equipment. It was signed in Pyongyang by ABB chief executive officer, Goran Lindahl. ABB said in January it had received orders worth $200 million (SFr362 million) to deliver equipment and services to two nuclear power stations in North…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland moots scrapping passport checks at borders

This content was published on Nov 24, 2000 The justice ministry said scrapping checks at Switzerland’s borders was one of several options under consideration. A working group is due to present its findings by 2003. A spokesman for the ministry said the government, in its foreign policy report, supported changes to the current system of passport checks at the border. The ministry denied…

Swiss Politics

Foreigners in Jura prepare to stand in groundbreaking election

This content was published on Nov 23, 2000 The tiny French-speaking canton in the far northwestern corner of Switzerland broke new ground in 1979, when it allowed foreigners who had lived in Switzerland for more than 10 years to vote in communal and cantonal elections. Now it has gone a step further. Twenty foreigners are seeking election to local councils in towns such…

Swiss Politics

Swiss present at EU expansion talks

This content was published on Nov 23, 2000 Deiss was addressing a meeting in France of his counterparts from the 15 European Union states, and countries applying to join the bloc. The conference centred on the EU’s future development and expansion. While he emphasised the fact that Switzerland had no intention of trying to lecture its European neighbours on the issue of federalism,…

Swiss Politics

UN asks Switzerland to suspend repatriations to Kosovo

This content was published on Nov 23, 2000 In a letter to the government, the UN administrator in Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner, said the reception facilities were unsatisfactory. The federal refugee office has agreed to send a fact-finding mission to Pristina before the end of the month to find out first-hand about the conditions for returning refugees. Spokesman, Dominique Boillat, said the office would…

Swiss Politics

Swiss seek to adapt neutrality to new political realities

This content was published on Nov 22, 2000 The government, meeting in Bern on Wednesday, acknowledged that the traditionally strict interpretation of Swiss neutrality should be applied in a manner “more in keeping with the times”. The statement follows a working group report on the issue, which focused on Swiss policy in the 1990s, and in particular the logistical support provided by Swiss…

Swiss Politics

Plain talking for Belgian royals

This content was published on Nov 22, 2000 No details were released about Wednesday’s meeting at Geneva airport but it was expected to focus on Belgium’s national airline, Sabena, which SAirGroup is due to take over. Earlier, the royal pair travelled to Lausanne, where they visited the International Olympic Committee Museum and met IOC president, Juan Antonio Samaranch. Also on Wednesday, the King…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Zurich cools towards Chinese sister city

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Swiss votes reveal deep cultural divisions between regions

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Green party nominates successor for Ogi

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ABB signs electricity deal with North Korea

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Switzerland moots scrapping passport checks at borders

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Foreigners in Jura prepare to stand in groundbreaking election

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Swiss present at EU expansion talks

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UN asks Switzerland to suspend repatriations to Kosovo

More

Swiss seek to adapt neutrality to new political realities

More

Plain talking for Belgian royals

Popular Stories

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