Swiss Abroad

Swiss-EU war of words heats up

This content was published on Jul 11, 2011 Reiterer said comments in the Sunday press by this year’s Swiss president, Micheline Calmy-Rey, were not justified. He argued that it was the EU who was waiting for proposals from the Swiss government on how to move forward. Reiterer explained that Switzerland had recognised that there were problems concerning institutional issues and had commissioned two…

Swiss Politics

Swiss aid marked by natural disasters

This content was published on Jul 11, 2011 This was below the average for OECD countries (0.49 per cent), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) said in their joint annual report published on Monday. Major humanitarian disasters in 2010 resulted in 295,000 victims and damage estimated at $130 billion. The SDC and Seco…

Swiss Politics

Left grapples with limited voter appeal

This content was published on Jul 11, 2011 They both cover the left of the political spectrum despite their different historical origins, and champion social and environmental issues. While the Social Democrats are struggling to confirm their 20 per cent share of voter support, the Greens look likely to break through the ten per cent ceiling for the first time in October’s parliamentary…

Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey hits out at “passive” European Union

This content was published on Jul 10, 2011 In an interview with the SonntagsZeitung newspaper to mark the middle of her one-year term as Swiss president, Calmy-Rey hit out at what she described as the EU’s “passivity” in current negotiations. Conceding that discussions about a new bilateral agreement were “difficult at the moment”, Calmy-Rey said it was necessary to consolidate bilateral measures to…

Swiss Politics

Swiss formally recognise South Sudan

This content was published on Jul 9, 2011 “After consultations with the foreign policy committees of the two chambers (of Parliament) the government has decided to recognise South Sudan as an independent state,” the government said in a statement. A Swiss government representative present at independence celebrations in the South Sudanese capital of Juba on Saturday, said Switzerland would begin the process of…

Swiss Politics

Strasbourg minaret ruling causes no surprise

This content was published on Jul 8, 2011 The ruling by the court in Strasbourg has been met with no surprise, by either opponents or supporters of the Swiss law. In a popular vote November 2009 the Swiss approved an initiative to add to the constitution a ban on the construction of any new minarets. Of those who voted, 57 per cent were…

Swiss Politics

“Flytilla” passengers grounded in Switzerland

This content was published on Jul 8, 2011 Some 600 people from around Europe are trying to visit the town of Bethlehem at the invitation of a Palestinian group in a solidarity operation dubbed “Welcome to Palestine”. Israel says the visitors are persona non grata. Meanwhile, the ten-boat Gaza-bound protest flotilla, which includes Swiss participants, remains blocked in Greece. Around 30 passengers were…

Swiss Politics

Nigerian deportation flights resume

This content was published on Jul 8, 2011 A Swiss International Air Lines flight carrying 19 Nigerians took off from Zurich on Thursday for Lagos, the Federal Migration Office said. However, the special flight did not proceed without incident. A spokesman for the Migration Office said two Nigerians who physically resisted boarding were not put on the flight. The German-language television news programme,…

Swiss Politics

Voters to decide on cabinet election reform

This content was published on Jul 7, 2011 The proposal, launched by members of the rightwing Swiss People’s Party, also has its supporters among the centre-left. Opinions among political scientists are divided. Just over 110,000 signatures in support of the initiative were handed in by campaigners to the Federal Chancellery on Thursday. People’s Party President Toni Brunner said if voters accepted the initiative…

Swiss Politics

Belt-tightening hits International Geneva

This content was published on Jul 6, 2011 While some Swiss officials downplay the recent wave of cutbacks and job losses among several of the 32 international agencies based in the western Swiss city, local cantonal authorities are watching events closely. Many agencies are being stretched to breaking point due to financial pressures resulting from the recent economic crisis. Last week United Nations…

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Swiss Abroad

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Swiss-EU war of words heats up

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Swiss aid marked by natural disasters

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Left grapples with limited voter appeal

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Calmy-Rey hits out at “passive” European Union

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Swiss formally recognise South Sudan

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Strasbourg minaret ruling causes no surprise

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“Flytilla” passengers grounded in Switzerland

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Nigerian deportation flights resume

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Voters to decide on cabinet election reform

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Belt-tightening hits International Geneva

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