Swiss Abroad

New stab at Middle East peace on WEF sidelines

This content was published on Jan 29, 2005 She was one of five Swiss ministers attending World Economic Forum annual meeting this year in Davos; others included Economics Minister Joseph Deiss and President Samuel Schmid. Both Israeli and Palestinian representatives present at the working breakfast on Saturday morning signalled their willingness to forge ahead with peace talks. One of the participants, Israeli Deputy…

Swiss Politics

Swiss aid hinges on improved security in Iraq

This content was published on Jan 29, 2005 More crucial is whether the security situation improves after Sunday’s vote, says the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, (SDC). Should things take a turn for the positive, spokesman Jean-Philippe Jutzi said that more Swiss money could flow to Iraq. Last year a total of SFr2 million ($1.69 million) in Swiss aid reached Iraq; Bern…

Swiss Politics

Schmid opens WEF with call for solidarity

This content was published on Jan 26, 2005 Schmid invited the 2,250 participants in Davos to work together for the promotion of economic development, peace and justice. He urged the annual meeting in the alpine resort to be more open in future to “the voices of the underprivileged, the poor and the victims of cruelty”. Schmid’s speech was in keeping with the intention…

Swiss Politics

Survey shows support for open borders

This content was published on Jan 23, 2005 But only a slight majority are in favour of extending a treaty on the free movement of people to the ten new EU member states. The electorate may be called to vote on the two issues later this year. In the first poll of public opinion on extending a treaty on the free movement of…

Swiss Politics

Asylum requests drop dramatically

This content was published on Jan 21, 2005 The Federal Migration Office said on Friday that the decrease was particularly marked in Switzerland compared to its European neighbours. According to the office, the country recorded 32.3 per cent fewer requests for asylum in 2004 than in 2003. The fall in requests was greater in Switzerland than in the rest of Western Europe. Figures…

Swiss Politics

Swiss out in force for World Social Forum

This content was published on Jan 20, 2005 After moving to Mumbai last year, the meeting of international civil society is returning to the Brazilian town of Porto Alegre, where the inaugural session was held in 2001. “With more than 50 participants, the Swiss delegation is the biggest and the most representative that we have ever had,” said Sergio Ferrari of the Swiss…

Swiss Politics

Iraq embarks on election “adventure”

This content was published on Jan 20, 2005 Martin Aeschbacher told swissinfo he expected voting to proceed normally in most parts of the country. The nationwide and local elections taking place simultaneously at the end of the month are the first since former ruler Saddam Hussein was toppled in 2003. Aeschbacher, who heads the Swiss liaison office in Iraq, said there was little…

Swiss Politics

Tsunami fund helps rebuild lives

This content was published on Jan 20, 2005 But Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey says the challenge of helping to rebuild shattered lives has only just begun. Calmy-Rey travelled to Sri Lanka and Thailand soon after the tidal waves struck the coastlines of several countries in southeast Asia on December 26. She saw first-hand the devastation which has claimed the lives of more…

Swiss Politics

Government splits EU votes

This content was published on Jan 19, 2005 The government said it wanted to avoid any confusion by holding the votes on security and asylum and on access to the Swiss labour market at different times. The Swiss electorate will have the final word on the Schengen/Dublin agreement with the EU on June 5 if opponents manage to collect enough signatures to force…

Future aid for Rwanda comes under review

This content was published on Jan 19, 2005 Walter Fust’s visit comes as Rwanda launches the biggest phase of hearings to try up to one million people suspected of involvement in the 1994 genocide. The Swiss government has to decide whether to continue the current aid programme, which came to an end in 2004, and what form any future assistance should take. Fust,…

Swiss Abroad

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