Swiss Abroad

EU tops agenda in Couchepin’s Portugal visit

This content was published on Sep 2, 2003 Sampaio told Couchepin he could count on Portugal’s support during the second round of negotiations on bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU. Switzerland hopes to clinch a second set of bilateral deals with the EU by the end of next year. Relations between Switzerland and Portugal are said to be good. Bern came to…

Swiss Politics

Disabled get new voice in Basel

This content was published on Sep 1, 2003 Martin Haug says his role is to advise the disabled of their rights, inform the public and hopefully serve as a model for the rest of the country. One of his jobs is to work with the city authorities to ensure public buildings across Basel offer better access to the disabled. Three months ago the…

Swiss Politics

Swiss abroad air concerns

This content was published on Aug 30, 2003 The Swiss president, Pascal Couchepin, told delegates Switzerland had to carve out more of a role for itself on the international stage. In his address, Couchepin said Switzerland could improve its image around the world – and especially among the young. “Switzerland enjoys a generally good reputation worldwide and joining the United Nations was certainly…

Expatriates focus on Switzerland’s financial role

This content was published on Aug 29, 2003 The 81st congress of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) also serves as a platform for other issues concerning Swiss expatriates. More than 500 people are expected to attend the three-day meeting, but OSA director Rudolf Wyder is disappointed the figure is not higher. “This year’s attendance won’t break any records,” he told swissinfo,…

Swiss Politics

Swiss ambassadors wrap up annual conference

This content was published on Aug 28, 2003 Switzerland’s overseas diplomats are now returning to their posts after four days of discussions in the Swiss capital, Bern. The Swiss foreign minister, Micheline Calmy-Rey, used the event to call for closer cooperation between Swiss embassies and the coordination bureaux of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Broad welcome Ulrich Lehner, head of…

Swiss Politics

Swiss abroad seek parliamentary voice

This content was published on Aug 25, 2003 The Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) said at least sixteen candidates had so far put their names forward. Twelve expatriates are to campaign for the rightwing Swiss People’s Party, while three others from the Radical Party will also fight for a place in the House of Representatives. A Swiss woman living in neighbouring France…

Swiss Politics

Swiss diplomats told to do more on world stage

This content was published on Aug 25, 2003 Calmy-Rey said Switzerland could only defend its interests if it was prepared to make its presence felt on the world stage. The foreign minister was speaking at the annual conference of Swiss ambassadors which kicked off in Bern on Monday. She added that guaranteeing the security of Switzerland was linked to combatting global poverty: “Poverty…

Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey’s diplomatic reforms cause controversy

This content was published on Aug 25, 2003 Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey wants to boost cooperation between ambassadors and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) – a move fiercely opposed by some diplomats. For the first time, 17 top SDC officials will be attending the conference in addition to 106 diplomats. Ahead of the conference, Calmy-Rey said she would like to…

Swiss Politics

Young people want Switzerland to be an island

This content was published on Aug 19, 2003 Nearly half of the young adults polled indicated they were anti-immigration and in favour of keeping Switzerland free from foreign influences. Some 20,000 young people participated in the defence ministry study. Almost half of them (44 per cent) said they would vote for a proposal to restrict the number of foreigners in Switzerland to ten…

Swiss Politics

German ambassador has Swiss interests at heart

This content was published on Aug 17, 2003 Elbe told swissinfo he did not believe the long-running dispute over Zurich airport would sour relations between the two neighbours. The two nations have been at loggerheads since the Swiss parliament rejected a controversial air transport accord in March this year. The deal is aimed at cutting by a third the number of flights approaching…

Swiss Abroad

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