Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Deiss back in Switzerland after Mideast tour

This content was published on Mar 4, 2000 The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, has returned to Switzerland after a nine-day tour of the Middle East. He was accompanied by business and parliamentary leaders, who gave a positive assessment of the trip, notwithstanding the controversy over Deiss’ remarks about Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights. The Israeli ambassador to Berne, Yitzhak Mayer, called…

Swiss Politics

Social Democrats postpone decision on Koch’s future

This content was published on Mar 4, 2000 Switzerland’s Social Democrats have resisted moves to hold a special congress to tackle the crisis surrounding party president Ursula Koch (picture). The party’s central committee overwhelmingly backed the decision at a meeting in Berne. The central committee voted 57 to ten against holding a special congress this summer, to decide whether to retain Koch or…

Swiss Politics

The week in Switzerland

This content was published on Mar 3, 2000 Middle Eastern affairs, the crisis in Mozambique and an unexpected move for asylum-seekers: these are some of the stories, which have made the headlines in the past week in Switzerland. The foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, has been touring the Middle East, becoming the first Swiss minister to visit Egypt, Syria and Lebanon for 15 years.…

Austrian chancellor to visit Berne in late March

This content was published on Mar 3, 2000 The new Austrian chancellor, Wolfgang Schüssel, will be making his first official visit abroad to Switzerland, at the end of this month. The Austrian authorities said he would be in Berne on either March 29 or 31. The visit is in line with tradition, according to which a new chancellor makes his first foreign visit…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland offers to host peace summit between Israel and Syria

This content was published on Mar 3, 2000 The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, says Switzerland is ready to host peace talks involving Israel, Syria and the United States, provided all sides want such a meeting. His comments come after the Israeli ambassador to Switzerland called on Deiss to clarify remarks he made about Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights. Deiss raised the…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland boosts emergency aid to Mozambique

This content was published on Mar 3, 2000 The Swiss government has increased its emergency relief aid to flood victims in Mozambique to SFr10 million. Walter Fust, who heads Swiss humanitarian relief as well as the government’s Development Agency, said the most urgent need is for more helicopters and shallow-draught boats for rescue work. However, as these would take too long to transport…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland seeks to break deadlock in peace talks with Israel and Syria

This content was published on Mar 3, 2000 Switzerland has raised the possibility of hosting a summit between Israel and Syria as part of efforts to restart the stalled Middle East peace talks, according to the foreign ministry. A spokesman said the foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, made it clear during his visit to Syria that if all sides wanted such a meeting, Switzerland…

Swiss Politics

US lauds Switzerland as key partner

This content was published on Mar 3, 2000 The United States Ambassador to Berne, J. Richard Fredericks, says that Switzerland is by definition “important to America and to Americans – and so is its participation in Europe’s great adventure of change.” Speaking to the American Club of Zurich, Ambassador Fredericks said Switzerland was one of the world’s “exemplary democracies”, actively engaged in bringing…

Swiss Politics

Fate of Koch leadership hangs in the balance

This content was published on Mar 3, 2000 The president of the Social Democratic Party, Ursula Koch, is facing another major test this weekend in her bid to retain her post. A decision will shortly be made on whether to call a special party congress which could unseat her. A meeting of the party’s management committee is being held today to consider the…

Swiss Politics

Deiss urges Israel to pull out of Lebanon

This content was published on Mar 2, 2000 The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, is in Lebanon on the last leg of his nine-day tour of the Middle East. Speaking in Beirut, Deiss underlined Lebanon’s right to territorial and political sovereignty. His comments came after a meeting with the interior minister, Michel Murr. Deiss said that Berne supported the United Nations resolution calling…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Deiss back in Switzerland after Mideast tour

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Social Democrats postpone decision on Koch’s future

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The week in Switzerland

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Austrian chancellor to visit Berne in late March

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Switzerland offers to host peace summit between Israel and Syria

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Switzerland boosts emergency aid to Mozambique

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Switzerland seeks to break deadlock in peace talks with Israel and Syria

More

US lauds Switzerland as key partner

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Fate of Koch leadership hangs in the balance

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Deiss urges Israel to pull out of Lebanon

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