Swiss Abroad

Government wants to improve health of immigrants

This content was published on Jul 14, 2002 The four-year programme, which will cost SFr26 million ($17.2 million), includes education of medical staff treating immigrant patients, as well as prevention projects and information campaigns. Part of the funds is also destined for special therapies, counselling services and research. The Federal Health Office said the programme aimed to boost integration and was in line…

Swiss Politics

Geneva forum aims to boost role of civil society

This content was published on Jul 14, 2002 The World Civil Society Forum runs until July 19, and has the backing of the Swiss government, the Geneva authorities, and several UN agencies. Up to 1,500 delegates – three-quarters of them from the developing world – have descended on Geneva’s International Conference Centre. As well as serious discussions on topics like the environment, health,…

Swiss Politics

Swiss open talks with EU on asylum and crime

This content was published on Jul 12, 2002 A statement by the Swiss justice ministry, released on Thursday, said Switzerland had emphasised its desire to join the agreements as part of a new round of bilateral treaties. “The Swiss delegation reiterated… that an association would be in the interests of both parties,” the statement said. Schengen would lead to the scrapping of border…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland’s image takes a fresh battering

This content was published on Jul 12, 2002 Friederich’s arrest on money laundering charges in Bern on Monday also comes at an awkward time for the Swiss government, which is coming under increasing pressure to relax its banking secrecy laws. Switzerland’s main French-language papers all reported Friederich’s arrest prominently, emphasising its potential impact on Swiss negotiations with the European Union. Le Temps headlined…

Swiss Politics

Swiss seek to join EU treaties on asylum and crime

This content was published on Jul 11, 2002 That is the message Monique Jametti Greiner, head of the Swiss delegation, is delivering to EU officials during the first round of negotiations on the Schengen and Dublin agreements, which the Swiss hope to join as part of a new round of bilateral treaties. “We will be negotiating from the principle that if we sign…

Swiss Politics

The government goes on holiday – together

This content was published on Jul 4, 2002 The five wise men and two equally wise women can relax on their annual two-day outing before heading off on their holidays. Every year the president invites cabinet colleagues on a “mystery tour” of sorts; mystery in the sense that the exact location remains a secret until the day of departure. But as it is…

Swiss Politics

Chinese dignitary pays discreet visit

This content was published on Jul 2, 2002 Zeng Qinghong is the highest-ranking Chinese official to make the trip to Bern since Jiang’s own appearance in the Swiss capital in 1999. The president’s visit was a memorable one thanks to a minor diplomatic tiff. When he arrived in the Swiss capital, pro-Tibet supporters booed him. Jiang then accused the Swiss government and its…

Swiss Politics

Middle East dominates Crans Montana Forum

This content was published on Jun 30, 2002 On Sunday afternoon, the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, spoke to the congress by satellite telephone saying he was prepared to meet the United States president, George W Bush, “any time, anywhere” to discuss peace in the Middle East. Arafat made his comments despite Bush’s recent call for his removal from power in a bid to…

Swiss Politics

British marines shed light on “secret” Alpine training

This content was published on Jun 30, 2002 Dressed in civilian clothes, the Royal Marines recently staged ice climbing and rescue exercises on a glacier near the Sustenpass to prove that the high-altitude adventure training they undertake in Switzerland has no sinister motive. The demonstration was organised by the British Embassy in Bern after concerns were raised that allowing a foreign army to…

Swiss Politics

Swiss abroad celebrate ten years of postal voting

This content was published on Jun 28, 2002 Before the new law was introduced on July 1 1992, the names of a mere 14,000 of the estimated 600,000 Swiss nationals living abroad were contained in the electoral register. Ten years on, that number has increased to 80,000. “The Swiss abroad want to be responsible citizens and take part in political decisions,” said Rudolf…

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Government wants to improve health of immigrants

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Geneva forum aims to boost role of civil society

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Swiss open talks with EU on asylum and crime

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Switzerland’s image takes a fresh battering

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Swiss seek to join EU treaties on asylum and crime

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The government goes on holiday – together

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Chinese dignitary pays discreet visit

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Middle East dominates Crans Montana Forum

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British marines shed light on “secret” Alpine training

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Swiss abroad celebrate ten years of postal voting

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