Swiss Abroad

Swiss and US commit to finding Kosovo solution

This content was published on Jan 23, 2008 The two parties met in Zurich on Wednesday to discuss further cooperation in relation to the breakaway province and other conflict zones such as the Middle East and Afghanistan. Rice spoke for 30 minutes with Calmy-Rey at Zurich airport en route to attending the World Economic Forum summit in Davos. It was the first time…

Swiss Politics

EU wants “movement” in tax dispute

This content was published on Jan 23, 2008 Discussions ended with a “clarification” of positions but no solution. The head of the European delegation said on Wednesday that the commission now expects the Swiss to make some “movement” on the issue before another meeting in April. The European Union is concerned over foreign-owned holding companies flocking to Switzerland to take advantage of low…

Swiss Politics

Call for end to Tamil deportations

This content was published on Jan 22, 2008 In a statement, the organisation pointed out that most Sri Lankan asylum seekers in Switzerland were Tamils from the war-torn north and west of the country. The Council also urged Swiss authorities to expedite asylum applications received at the Swiss embassy in Colombo. “There is no longer any region in Sri Lanka where those fleeing…

Swiss Politics

Government concerned by situation in Gaza

This content was published on Jan 22, 2008 The comments were made at the third session of political dialogue with Israel in Bern and follow a warning by the Swiss-run International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on the state of basic services in the Gaza Strip. The government expressed its concern at the socio-economic developments in Gaza and urged Israel to follow…

Swiss Politics

Swiss back extradition with assurances

This content was published on Jan 22, 2008 But human rights campaigners say foreigners should not be extradited to nations with poor human rights records on the basis of diplomatic assurances that suspects will not be ill treated or tortured. On Monday the Federal Court rejected an appeal against the extradition of the former head of a London-based shipping company who was arrested…

Swiss Politics

Racist incidents reach record high

This content was published on Jan 21, 2008 In a report the Federal Commission against Racism said there had been 355 reported cases of racism since 1995, when legislation came into force requiring the government to keep track of attacks. In all, half have been prosecuted. Jews were the most disproportionately targeted ethnic group, and the subject of roughly one quarter of all…

Swiss Politics

Brussels puts pressure on Switzerland over tax

This content was published on Jan 20, 2008 He said that Switzerland was free to put forward its own plans to try to solve the problem but it could not simply sit it out. Brussels and Bern have in particular been arguing over tax breaks offered by some Swiss cantons to foreign companies. Reiterer made the comments in an interview with the Sonntag…

Swiss Politics

More than 200 detained in Bern demonstration

This content was published on Jan 19, 2008 The event, which comes four days before the annual meeting of the Geneva-based World Economic Forum in the alpine resort of Davos, had been banned after fears of violence. The organisers of the demonstration, the “Alliance for a Global Opposition”, had said they would not respect the ban, with their leader, Giovanni A. Schumacher, explaining…

Swiss Politics

Exports of Swiss wine in 2007 disappoint

This content was published on Jan 19, 2008 It reported on Saturday that the reason for what it called the “massive slump” was declining orders from Switzerland’s main customer, Germany. “By the end of September, only 560,000 litres of wine had been exported,” explained Othmar Stäheli, editor-in-chief of the Swiss Wine newspaper. Since exports in the fourth quarter of the year normally increase…

Swiss Politics

Blocher holds sway at party meeting in Zurich

This content was published on Jan 19, 2008 Speaking at the traditional Albisgütli party meeting in Zurich, Blocher said it might launch a referendum against the extension of free movement of people to Romania and Bulgaria if Brussels does not accept Switzerland’s sovereignty in tax matters. He added that an accord concerning electricity was another bone of contention. The former justice minister, who…

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