Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Amnesty International wants halt to repatriation of Rwandan refugees

This content was published on Apr 25, 2000 The Swiss branch of the human rights group, Amnesty International, has called for a halt to the repatriation of Rwandans living in Switzerland whose requests for asylum have been turned down. The appeal is based on a damning report of conditions in Rwanda, compiled after a government decision in February to send the asylum-seekers home.…

Swiss Politics

Ogi warns army reform won’t come cheap

This content was published on Apr 22, 2000 The defence minister, Adolf Ogi, has warned that his proposed army reforms are not likely to lead to a reduction in military spending. Ogi told Le Temps newspaper that the smaller-scale army could cost even more than its present-day equivalent. Under the plans the number of troops serving in the army will be reduced from…

Swiss Politics

Cantons and government give green light to Kosovo repatriation deadline

This content was published on Apr 21, 2000 The government and cantons have agreed to keep the May 31 deadline for the voluntary repatriation of refugees from Kosovo, who arrived before June 1999. Switzerland is due to start forcibly returning refugees after the deadline passes. The decision follows an agreement sealed earlier this month by the justice minister, Ruth Metzler, with the United…

Swiss Politics

Federal Refugee Office confident of asylum success

This content was published on Apr 21, 2000 The director of the Federal Refugee Office, Jean-Daniel Gerber, says he is optimistic that consensus can be reached during next month’s national conference on asylum policy. He was speaking after the cantons and federal government reached an agreement to keep the May 31 deadline for the voluntary repatriation of Kosovo refugees. Gerber said he was…

Swiss Politics

The week in Switzerland

This content was published on Apr 21, 2000 The week before Easter in Switzerland was marked by the resignation of the president of the Social Democratic Party. Ursula Koch stepped down after less than three years in power, bringing the conflict within one of Switzerland’s main parties to a head. Although Koch’s resignation was on the cards for some time, it still caused…

Plans drawn up for possible evacuation of Swiss nationals from Zimbabwe

This content was published on Apr 19, 2000 Switzerland’s ambassador in Zimbabwe, Jean-Marc Boillat, has prepared contingency plans to evacuate Swiss nationals. The move comes as the conflict sparked by the occupation of white-owned farms threatens to spiral out of control. Two white farmers and several opposition activits have been killed in recent violence. “The uneasiness is growing,” says Boillat. “There is a…

Swiss Politics

European Parliament commission calls for Yes in bilateral vote

This content was published on Apr 19, 2000 The European Parliamentary commission responsible for the bilateral accords with Switzerland has called on the Parliament’s members to approve the accords. The Italian Socialist Massimo Carraro, the commission chairman, succeeded in his stated aim of ensuring that the European Parliament made its view clear ahead of Switzerland’s referendum on the accords on May 21. The…

Swiss Politics

Easing integration of foreigners

This content was published on Apr 18, 2000 The authorities in canton Lucerne have presented proposals aimed at easing the integration of foreigners and facilitating the practice of naturalisation. The report comes in the wake of a controversial decision by voters in the industrial town of Emmen. The cantonal government said it was considering changes to the law on citizenship. It said easing…

Swiss Politics

Swiss aid to Poland to be scaled down, and trade boosted

This content was published on Apr 17, 2000 Central Europe is sufficiently developed for Switzerland’s aid programmes to be downscaled and refocused on the Balkans, the foreign minister, Joseph Deiss told his Polish counterpart, Bronislaw Geremek in Warsaw. However, Deiss said environmental aid packages would continue. Deiss said Poland had received Sfr150 million in Swiss aid over the past ten years, but that…

Swiss Politics

Swiss friend of refugees dies aged 95

This content was published on Apr 17, 2000 August Lindt, the former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, has died in Berne aged 95. He was also well-known as a journalist and international diplomat. Lindt was dedicated to the ideal that Swiss neutrality should not prevent the country from playing a global role. He began his career as a journalist in the 1920s,…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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Amnesty International wants halt to repatriation of Rwandan refugees

More

Ogi warns army reform won’t come cheap

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Cantons and government give green light to Kosovo repatriation deadline

More

Federal Refugee Office confident of asylum success

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The week in Switzerland

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Plans drawn up for possible evacuation of Swiss nationals from Zimbabwe

More

European Parliament commission calls for Yes in bilateral vote

More

Easing integration of foreigners

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Swiss aid to Poland to be scaled down, and trade boosted

More

Swiss friend of refugees dies aged 95

Popular Stories

Most Discussed