Swiss Abroad

Geneva hosts new round of Georgia-Russia talks

This content was published on Jul 1, 2009 The talks, aimed at finding an accord on security arrangements, were the sixth since armed forces from the two sides clashed over the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia last August. Pierre Morel, one of the co-chairman of the meeting, told a media conference afterwards that the talks had sometimes been “difficult, without being dramatic,”…

Swiss Politics

More cost cutting to reduce health spending

This content was published on Jul 1, 2009 They include a new price structure for generics as well as lowering rebates for excess payments of insurance takers, and are due to come into force gradually by the beginning of next year. The measures aim to cut spending by about SFr400 million ($370.3 million) and to help health insurance companies to calculate premiums for…

Swiss Politics

Iranian ambassador summoned

This content was published on Jul 1, 2009 A foreign ministry spokesman said Switzerland reminded Iran that it should respect freedom of expression and assembly, and said it was concerned about acts of violence. The spokesman said Bern was considering suspending its human rights dialogue with Tehran. Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey called on the Iranian government last week to act with restraint when…

Government sets date for minaret ballot

This content was published on Jul 1, 2009 Two other issues, including a ban on the export of war material, will also be put to a nationwide vote the same day, according to a statement by the Federal Chancellery on Wednesday. In a recent interview with swissinfo.ch, Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said she hoped emotional factors would not influence the debate in the…

Swiss Politics

Geneva hosts new round of Georgia-Russia talks

This content was published on Jul 1, 2009 Wednesday’s talks are the sixth since armed forces from the two sides clashed over the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia last August. Just two days before the talks began, Russia started its biggest military exercises involving 8,500 troops in the Caucasus since the conflict. The talks also come one day after the expiry of…

Swiss Politics

Serbia agrees to new migration and visa rules

This content was published on Jun 30, 2009 Swiss Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf and Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic signed a readmission agreement and another that will facilitate the process of issuing visas. They also agreed to a statement of intent to partner on migration and police cooperation. In a statement, the Swiss justice ministry said the new readmission agreement requires both sides…

Swiss Politics

Officials welcome Kyrgyz prime minister

This content was published on Jun 30, 2009 In a written statement, the finance ministry described the meeting between Merz, who also holds the finance portfolio, and Igor Chudinov, an ethnic Russian, as “friendly and constructive”. The two discussed issues including bilateral relations, the financial crisis and development cooperation. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) operates in the central Asian country.…

Swiss Politics

Diplomat predicts Honduras coup will fail

This content was published on Jun 30, 2009 Walter Suter, former Swiss ambassador to Venezuela, told swissinfo.ch that the first military putsch in Central America since the Cold War was also unlikely to endanger democracies in other parts of Latin America. On Tuesday Honduras’ interim government battled against a tide of international support for Zelaya, who vowed to return home in two days…

Swiss Politics

Swiss back Holocaust conference declaration

This content was published on Jun 30, 2009 Nations also backed the foundation of the European Shoah Legacy Institute to track the return of such property, according to a conference statement. The declaration, named after the site of a former concentration camp in the northern Czech town of Terezin, states the countries should urge that “every effort be made to rectify the consequences…

Swiss Politics

Government expresses concern over Honduras

This content was published on Jun 30, 2009 It called on those responsible “to re-establish constitutional order and the rule of law”. It also called for a democratic and peaceful resolution of the crisis. World leaders including United States President Barack Obama have condemned the coup and demanded that President Manuel Zelaya be reinstated. Zelaya himself, who was abroad when the coup was…

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