Swiss Abroad

EU policy hotly debated in parliament

This content was published on May 29, 2008 After six hours of discussion on Wednesday, the House of Representatives decided that a nationwide vote to be held on prolonging the agreement on the free movement of people should be separated from one on extending the right to the EU’s two newest members. The House decision follows the line of the Swiss government. The…

Swiss Politics

Conference assesses Iraq’s status

This content was published on May 29, 2008 The Swedish meeting is evaluating the implementation of the ICI, a five-year peace and economic development agreement that was officially launched in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in May last year. Michael Ambühl, state secretary for foreign affairs, is heading the Swiss delegation. Governments are also set to discuss the cancellation of Iraq’s debt,…

Swiss Politics

Couchepin to attend Beijing Olympics

This content was published on May 28, 2008 There had been uncertainty over his attendance since riots in Tibet in March, which left a number of people dead. Couchepin justified his decision on the grounds that Switzerland houses the seat of the International Olympic Committee and that it was therefore “natural” that he should go. He said his ministerial colleagues had left the…

Swiss Politics

Parliament tackles labour accord and aid

This content was published on May 28, 2008 The session opened a week earlier than usual owing to the Euro 2008 football championship being co-hosted by Switzerland and neighbours Austria from June 7. Only the third and final week of the session will fall inside the championship but the agenda of meetings has been so arranged that football fans inside parliament will not…

Swiss Politics

Petition aims to raise development funds

This content was published on May 26, 2008 Around 201,000 people signed the Together Against Poverty petition, presented to the federal chancellery on Monday. The NGOs behind the move say Switzerland needs to increase development aid from 0.4 to 0.7 per cent of its gross national product by 2015 if it wants to follow objectives set by the United Nations in 2000 to…

Swiss Politics

ICRC chief blasts Myanmar junta

This content was published on May 25, 2008 Jakob Kellenberger, the president of the Swiss-run ICRC, was interviewed in the Sonntag newspaper on Sunday. “The government makes it impossible for us to fulfil our mission – to bring aid to the people in the conflict area on the Thai border,” he said. Apart from the devastating cyclone that hit in early May, the…

Swiss Politics

Blackwater probe concludes

This content was published on May 24, 2008 A military court will now decide whether the person in question, referred to by Swiss television only as “Mike”, acted as a mercenary. A conviction for any person serving in a foreign military can result in up to three years’ imprisonment or a fine. The case is regarded as precedent setting within the Swiss military…

Myanmar aid decision draws muted response

This content was published on May 23, 2008 Myanmar’s ruling junta leader Senior General Than Shwe agreed to allow all humanitarian workers into the country after meeting with the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday. The Swiss Red Cross told swissinfo it was “good news in principle” and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) said it would wait for more…

Swiss Politics

Government confirms nuclear papers destroyed

This content was published on May 23, 2008 Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin said on Friday that detailed plans for the construction of an atomic bomb were among the papers seized after federal prosecutors began investigating a family of Swiss engineers in 2004. The father and sons – Friedrich, Marco and Urs Tinner – were suspected of helping to supply parts for Libya’s nuclear…

Swiss Politics

Citizenship figures fuel debate ahead of vote

This content was published on May 23, 2008 Rightwingers argue no country in Europe approves more citizenship applications than Switzerland. But officials say the comparisons are misleading. Over the past few weeks the rightwing Swiss People’s Party has been recycling arguments that proved successful four years ago when it challenged a proposal to facilitate the naturalisation of second- and third-generation foreigners in Switzerland.…

Swiss Abroad

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Swiss Abroad

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EU policy hotly debated in parliament

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Conference assesses Iraq’s status

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Couchepin to attend Beijing Olympics

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Parliament tackles labour accord and aid

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Petition aims to raise development funds

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ICRC chief blasts Myanmar junta

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Blackwater probe concludes

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Myanmar aid decision draws muted response

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Government confirms nuclear papers destroyed

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Citizenship figures fuel debate ahead of vote

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