Swiss Abroad

Americans turn down Swiss hurricane aid

This content was published on Sep 15, 2005 The US embassy in Bern said on Thursday that Switzerland’s “generous” help was no longer needed, after an offer of assistance was accepted two weeks ago. Around 50 tons of emergency supplies comprising blankets, tarpaulin, tents and hygiene kits – in addition to eight Swiss experts in logistics, medicine and water – have been ready…

Swiss Politics

Swiss back Annan over summit failings

This content was published on Sep 15, 2005 Speaking on Wednesday at the opening of a three-day summit of 150 world leaders, Annan said nations had come up short on efforts to tackle poverty and reform the world body. Annan was also highly critical of the failure to reach an agreement on how to tackle nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. “We welcome the realistic…

Swiss Politics

EU labour accord vote remains undecided

This content was published on Sep 14, 2005 The third and last survey by the GfS institute, commissioned by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, found that 50 per cent would vote yes and 38 per cent no, with 12 per cent undecided. With less than two weeks to go before the crucial ballot on September 25, Wednesday’s results show that the yes camp has…

Swiss Politics

Schmid strikes back over aid criticism

This content was published on Sep 14, 2005 His comments in New York on the eve of a United Nations summit follow fresh accusations from non-governmental organisations that the Swiss have arrived “empty-handed”. The summit, which is being attended by more than 170 world leaders, has been hailed as an opportunity to give impetus to the Millennium Development Goals to reduce poverty, improve…

Swiss Politics

Swiss fear lack of real progress at UN summit

This content was published on Sep 13, 2005 Peter Maurer, who has been involved in difficult negotiations on a final document, says a big question mark hangs over whether substantive progress can be made on a number of issues. More than 170 heads of state and government are due in New York for the 2005 World Summit, which gets underway on Wednesday. Ambassadors…

Swiss Politics

Swiss demand more details of Iraqi death

This content was published on Sep 11, 2005 In a letter addressed to the Iraqi government and also sent to the Swiss authorities, the US army admitted that it had been involved in what it called a “tragic accident”. Salah Jmor, who held dual Swiss and Iraqi nationality, was killed on June 28 this year as he drove along a Baghdad highway. His…

Swiss Politics

Women politicians unite for all-day school

This content was published on Sep 11, 2005 The “coalition of mothers and grandmothers” wants to give parents the option to leave their children at school for the whole day. Their initiative will be launched in the autumn session of parliament. Currently the vast majority of Swiss schools close for lunch with the expectation that children return home to eat their midday meal.…

Swiss Politics

Hurricane aid remains in Switzerland

This content was published on Sep 9, 2005 Bern and Washington blame logistical problems, but Daniel Warner, an American at the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, blames US bureaucracy. The 50 tons of emergency supplies comprising blankets, tarpaulin, tents and hygiene kits – in addition to eight Swiss experts in logistics, medicine and water – have been ready to go since…

Swiss Politics

Rütli celebrations set to continue

This content was published on Sep 7, 2005 The Rütli committee is to put forward proposals aimed at avoiding a repetition of this year’s gathering in which right-wing extremists heckled Swiss President Samuel Schmid. In a statement on Wednesday, the committee said it would do “everything possible” for future August 1 celebrations to be worthy of the name. And to that end it…

Swiss Politics

Katrina is “wake-up call” for US

This content was published on Sep 7, 2005 Smyke predicts that President Bush, who has announced that he will lead an investigation into how the disaster was handled, will not be among the “heads to roll” as criticism mounts. But he believes that the most powerful nation in the world will go through a period of painful soul searching about Hurricane Katrina, which…

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