Swiss Abroad

Foreign minister takes knock over handling of EU vote

This content was published on Mar 6, 2001 The People’s Party – one of the four in government – called on Deiss to give up his cabinet post in the wake of a nationwide vote on Sunday, in which the Swiss overwhelmingly rejected an immediate start to talks on EU membership. The call came after Deiss denied that the outcome of the ballot…

Swiss Politics

EU ready for talks on closer ties with Switzerland

This content was published on Mar 6, 2001 In a letter to the Swiss president, Moritz Leuenberger, Persson said both the EU and Switzerland had a common interest in widening and deepening relations. Leuenberger described the letter as a “breakthrough” in moving towards negotiations on new bilateral agreements to complement seven others governing mainly trade issues approved by Swiss voters last year. Persson’s…

Swiss Politics

Strength of anti-EU vote takes pundits by surprise

This content was published on Mar 5, 2001 Polls had predicted that voters would reject the initiative, which called on the government to start immediate membership talks with the European Union. But the scale of the defeat was overwhelming. The “Basler Zeitung” summed up the result succinctly with its headline – ” ‘Yes to Europe’ becomes a clear No to Europe”. A big…

Swiss Politics

Swiss turn down “fast track” EU membership negotiations

This content was published on Mar 4, 2001 A large majority in German-Swiss parts of the country voted against, with many cantons recording a “no” vote of between 80 and 90 per cent. But the trend against the proposal was also evident in French-speaking parts of the country which are generally more pro-European. Over 55 per cent in canton Jura rejected it, while…

Swiss Politics

Geneva rejects giving vote to foreigners

This content was published on Mar 4, 2001 The proposal was turned down by a mere 5,000 votes. A total of 66,761 voted against while 61,670 were in favour. Turnout was put at 62 per cent. The Geneva initiative proposed that any foreigner who had lived in Switzerland for at least eight years should be allowed not only to vote on communal matters,…

Swiss Politics

No sign of missing Swiss environmentalist

This content was published on Mar 2, 2001 Nothing has been heard from Manser since he disappeared in the Malaysian province of Sarawak last year. The Swiss ambassador to Malaysia, Rudolf Staub, has concluded a three-day fact-finding mission to Sarawak, but has not been able to find any new evidence of what happened to Manser following his disappearance. Staub had hoped his personal…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland expands international peace role

This content was published on Mar 2, 2001 “Our contribution to peace and security efforts globally has increased continuously and this reflects the will of the government to play a more important role in the efforts of the international community for peace and security,” Ambassador Peter Maurer, who is the head of human rights and humanitarian affairs at the foreign ministry, told swissinfo.…

Swiss Politics

Swiss to vote on fast-track negotiations with European Union

This content was published on Mar 1, 2001 Supporters of the initiative, known as “Yes to Europe”, say it is important for Switzerland to push ahead with EU integration as quickly as possible. Parliament, the government and many industry leaders, however, have come out against the initiative, saying such a step is premature. The government, which sees EU membership as a longer-term goal,…

Swiss Politics

Swiss to vote on arming peacekeepers

This content was published on Mar 1, 2001 The government announced on Thursday that a referendum would take place on July 10, after two non-governmental organisations (NGOs) collected enough signatures to force a nationwide vote on the issue. The NGOs involved were the Campaign for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland (CINS), and the Group for a Switzerland without an Army (GSoA). The GSoA…

Swiss Politics

Ogi post to raise profile of world sport

This content was published on Feb 28, 2001 “The creation of this new post shows that the UN has recognised the great rise in importance of international sport,” Ogi said shortly after his appointment was announced. Describing his new assignment as an interesting challenge and a major exercise, the former Swiss sports minister gave a recent example of the way in which sport…

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Foreign minister takes knock over handling of EU vote

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EU ready for talks on closer ties with Switzerland

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Strength of anti-EU vote takes pundits by surprise

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Swiss turn down “fast track” EU membership negotiations

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Geneva rejects giving vote to foreigners

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No sign of missing Swiss environmentalist

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Switzerland expands international peace role

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Swiss to vote on fast-track negotiations with European Union

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Swiss to vote on arming peacekeepers

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Ogi post to raise profile of world sport

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