Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Swiss open talks with EU on asylum and crime

This content was published on Jul 12, 2002 A statement by the Swiss justice ministry, released on Thursday, said Switzerland had emphasised its desire to join the agreements as part of a new round of bilateral treaties. “The Swiss delegation reiterated… that an association would be in the interests of both parties,” the statement said. Schengen would lead to the scrapping of border…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland’s image takes a fresh battering

This content was published on Jul 12, 2002 Friederich’s arrest on money laundering charges in Bern on Monday also comes at an awkward time for the Swiss government, which is coming under increasing pressure to relax its banking secrecy laws. Switzerland’s main French-language papers all reported Friederich’s arrest prominently, emphasising its potential impact on Swiss negotiations with the European Union. Le Temps headlined…

Swiss Politics

Swiss seek to join EU treaties on asylum and crime

This content was published on Jul 11, 2002 That is the message Monique Jametti Greiner, head of the Swiss delegation, is delivering to EU officials during the first round of negotiations on the Schengen and Dublin agreements, which the Swiss hope to join as part of a new round of bilateral treaties. “We will be negotiating from the principle that if we sign…

Swiss Politics

The government goes on holiday – together

This content was published on Jul 4, 2002 The five wise men and two equally wise women can relax on their annual two-day outing before heading off on their holidays. Every year the president invites cabinet colleagues on a “mystery tour” of sorts; mystery in the sense that the exact location remains a secret until the day of departure. But as it is…

Swiss Politics

Chinese dignitary pays discreet visit

This content was published on Jul 2, 2002 Zeng Qinghong is the highest-ranking Chinese official to make the trip to Bern since Jiang’s own appearance in the Swiss capital in 1999. The president’s visit was a memorable one thanks to a minor diplomatic tiff. When he arrived in the Swiss capital, pro-Tibet supporters booed him. Jiang then accused the Swiss government and its…

Swiss Politics

Middle East dominates Crans Montana Forum

This content was published on Jun 30, 2002 On Sunday afternoon, the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, spoke to the congress by satellite telephone saying he was prepared to meet the United States president, George W Bush, “any time, anywhere” to discuss peace in the Middle East. Arafat made his comments despite Bush’s recent call for his removal from power in a bid to…

Swiss Politics

British marines shed light on “secret” Alpine training

This content was published on Jun 30, 2002 Dressed in civilian clothes, the Royal Marines recently staged ice climbing and rescue exercises on a glacier near the Sustenpass to prove that the high-altitude adventure training they undertake in Switzerland has no sinister motive. The demonstration was organised by the British Embassy in Bern after concerns were raised that allowing a foreign army to…

Swiss Politics

Swiss abroad celebrate ten years of postal voting

This content was published on Jun 28, 2002 Before the new law was introduced on July 1 1992, the names of a mere 14,000 of the estimated 600,000 Swiss nationals living abroad were contained in the electoral register. Ten years on, that number has increased to 80,000. “The Swiss abroad want to be responsible citizens and take part in political decisions,” said Rudolf…

Swiss Politics

International forum debates social responsibility

This content was published on Jun 28, 2002 Around 1,200 government and business leaders from around the world are expected at the annual forum to debate and exchange views on a range of subjects including European Union enlargement, security in the Great Lakes region of Africa and the role of women under Islam. One of the key contributions is expected to come from…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland’s asylum policy is under pressure

This content was published on Jun 22, 2002 During the two-day summit EU leaders promised to come up with a common policy to curb illegal immigration. They agreed to begin joint border patrols as part of a new series of measures to combat illegal immigration and a draft declaration said that the 15 member countries would set up a common asylum policy by…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

More

Swiss open talks with EU on asylum and crime

More

Switzerland’s image takes a fresh battering

More

Swiss seek to join EU treaties on asylum and crime

More

The government goes on holiday – together

More

Chinese dignitary pays discreet visit

More

Middle East dominates Crans Montana Forum

More

British marines shed light on “secret” Alpine training

More

Swiss abroad celebrate ten years of postal voting

More

International forum debates social responsibility

More

Switzerland’s asylum policy is under pressure

Popular Stories

Most Discussed