Swiss Abroad

Swiss Tamils hope for peace in Sri Lanka

This content was published on Sep 17, 2002 Since 1983, 64,000 people have died in the bloody conflict between the government and the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels. The negotiations – scheduled to last for three days – are taking place on neutral ground in the Thai city of Sattahip, near Bangkok. The talks are the result of a Norwegian initiative and follow a…

Swiss Politics

Positive thinking helping New York to cope

This content was published on Sep 11, 2002 Among them are thousands of Swiss who have also had to come to terms with the impact of September 11. The image of the blazing, then collapsing, towers is still painfully fresh in America’s collective memory. And it has been made yet more vivid by the virtually blanket coverage that has been devoted to the…

Swiss Politics

Swiss take seat at world table

This content was published on Sep 11, 2002 After decades on the sidelines, it has pledged to play an active role in the world body. “The Swiss are here. We’ve waited a long time,” the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan joked as the Swiss flag was raised alongside the 189 flags of the other member states. Annan bade the Swiss welcome in all four…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland prepares to join the world

This content was published on Sep 10, 2002 The big question now is how exactly will United Nations membership alter Swiss foreign policy? Until now Switzerland has been the biggest country outside the United Nations. In voting to join the world body last March, the Swiss people were acknowledging that this special status was doing the country more harm than good. Enough people…

Swiss Politics

Speedy timetable to UN membership

This content was published on Sep 10, 2002 Switzerland’s entry comes just six months after the Swiss people and the cantons voted to join the organisation. The Security Council was swift to support the Swiss application in June: it was approved unanimously within five minutes, without the need to cast votes. Similarly, Tuesday’s ceremony – which comes during the opening of the UN’s…

Swiss Politics

EXPO 02

This content was published on Sep 5, 2002 Most of the infrastructure at the four exhibition sites was designed with the handicapped in mind.

Long road to membership

This content was published on Sep 5, 2002 The linchpin was the choice of Geneva as the seat of the League of Nations and later as the European headquarters of the UN. 1919 On April 28 the Paris Conference agreed to the Covenant of the League of Nations. Geneva became seat of the first organization for peace and international safety. The new League…

UN’s newest members are poles apart

This content was published on Sep 5, 2002 For Switzerland, though, there will be no sentimental attachment to the world’s newest nation. Switzerland joins the “family of nations” on September 10. East Timor follows suit on September 27. For the UN, this is hugely symbolic: with the exception of the Vatican City, every country on Earth will be part of this global family.…

Swiss Politics

Negotiations peak at Earth summit

This content was published on Sep 2, 2002 Swiss officials say negotiations on the terms of a political declaration and global plan of action are entering their final, decisive phase. “The time for deals is approaching,” said the Swiss ambassador for the environment, Beat Nobs. Serge Chappatte, a senior Swiss negotiator at the summit, said the final round of talks between world leaders…

Swiss Politics

Federalism offers strong salve for ethnic conflict

This content was published on Aug 30, 2002 The extent to which federalism can point the way to peaceful coexistence has been one of the main themes at the international conference on federalism in St Gallen. Federalism is by no means a global panacea for the world’s problems, says University of Melbourne professor, and a speaker at the conference, Cheryl Saunders. But it…

Swiss Abroad

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Swiss Abroad

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Swiss Tamils hope for peace in Sri Lanka

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Positive thinking helping New York to cope

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Swiss take seat at world table

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Switzerland prepares to join the world

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Speedy timetable to UN membership

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EXPO 02

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Long road to membership

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UN’s newest members are poles apart

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Negotiations peak at Earth summit

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Federalism offers strong salve for ethnic conflict

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