Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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…

Swiss Politics

Belgian royals visit Switzerland

This content was published on Nov 21, 2000 On arrival in the country King Albert and his wife were given a reception with full military honours in Bern. They also met a delegation of Belgian expatriates living in Switzerland. In his speech, King Albert pointed out the similarities between Switzerland and Belgium, and paid tribute to the two countries’ close relations. He praised…

Swiss Politics

“Magic Formula” still alive, but expect change in 2003, says Swiss academic

This content was published on Nov 19, 2000 In an interview with the “SonntagsBlick” newspaper, the canton Fribourg academic said that he didn’t expect major political changes before the 2003 general election. Despite strong words, Switzerland’s politicians lacked a real will to disrupt the status quo, he said. Under the “Magic Formula”, devised in 1959, the seven-member Swiss government is composed of two…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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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

More

Belgian royals visit Switzerland

More

“Magic Formula” still alive, but expect change in 2003, says Swiss academic

Popular Stories

Most Discussed