Swiss Abroad

Former Swiss state secretary dies

This content was published on May 10, 2001 Probst was in favour of an active and pragmatic foreign policy, and an advocate of United Nations membership. Probst was born in 1919 in Geneva, and was then brought up in Biel and Latvia, where his father worked for the Swiss watch industry. After obtaining a doctorate in law at the University of Bern, Probst…

Swiss Politics

New old age pension scheme squeaks through parliament

This content was published on May 9, 2001 In the final vote on the law, 62 members voted in favour, 60 against and there were 63 abstentions. Analysts said few of the parties were satisfied with the result. The interior minister, Ruth Dreifuss, said she did not wish to dramatise the result of the vote. “It’s a tactical vote, we all wanted to…

Swiss Politics

Affolter to give controversial bonus to charity

This content was published on May 6, 2001 In an interview with the SonntagsZeitung newspaper, Affotler said he would be donating his bonus to the charity SOS Children’s Villages, which cares for orphans. “I have been in contact with SOS Children’s Villages for several months and I have announced a major donation,” he revealed. News of Affolter’s charitable act added a fresh twist…

Swiss Politics

EU opposed to Swiss involvement in education

This content was published on May 4, 2001 The Commission said its decision was motivated by Switzerland’s ambiguous attitude towards the EU. Although the Swiss government has said it is committed to eventual membership, voters last March rejected a proposal to start immediate talks on accession. The commission said it remained committed to increased cooperation with Switzerland. But it stressed that it was…

Swiss Politics

Belgrade asks Swiss for help in democratising security forces

This content was published on May 4, 2001 “There’s a clear feeling in Belgrade that they need to move towards Europe, not just institutionally, but also in terms of political culture,” says Theodor Winkler, director of the Geneva-based centre. “President Kostunica believes we can respond to a direct need of his government,” he told swissinfo. The Centre is still only six months old,…

Swiss Politics

De-mining project begins in Albania with Swiss support

This content was published on May 3, 2001 They will be trained by six international supervisors, including two members of the Swiss army. The project is being supported by the Swiss Federation for De-mining. Northern Albania was heavily mined by Serb forces during the conflict in Kosovo in 1999, in an attempt to prevent cross border incursions by the Kosovo Liberation Army. In…

Swiss Politics

Democracy at its most direct in Appenzell

This content was published on Apr 30, 2001 The open air vote, known as the “Landsgemeinde”, is a tradition which dates back to the 14th century, and the only way to really understand its significance is to experience it at first hand. On this special Sunday the local train to Appenzell is unusually full, there is an atmosphere of excitement in the air,…

Swiss Politics

Swiss could spend SFr30 billion on military hardware

This content was published on Apr 30, 2001 In the German-language “SonntagsBlick”, Schmid declined to comment on precise details of the defence budget, but confirmed that pressure to invest in the Swiss military “increases every year”. Schmid rejected the suggestion that neutral Switzerland did not need to purchase such military hardware. “What we take for granted today,” Schmid told the paper, “may not…

Swiss Politics

Congo blames Uganda for murder of Red Cross workers

This content was published on Apr 28, 2001 “According to the information we have, the six ICRC workers were most probably murdered by the Ugandan army who also discovered the bodies,” said Ileka Atoki, a Congolese diplomat to the United Nations. According to the ICRC, the dead were four local workers and two foreign delegates – a Colombian man, Julio Delgado, and a…

Swiss Politics

Swiss delegates upbeat about peace hopes in Mexico

This content was published on Apr 27, 2001 The delegation, which included parliamentarians Cécile Bühlmann and Rosmarie Zapfl, held talks with government representatives and supporters of the indigenous Indians in Chiapas state on their fifth mission to the region. The head of the observation mission, Tildy Hanhart, told swissinfo that Switzerland was playing an important role in supporting the peace process simply by…

Swiss Abroad

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Swiss Abroad

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Former Swiss state secretary dies

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New old age pension scheme squeaks through parliament

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Affolter to give controversial bonus to charity

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EU opposed to Swiss involvement in education

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Belgrade asks Swiss for help in democratising security forces

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De-mining project begins in Albania with Swiss support

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Democracy at its most direct in Appenzell

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Swiss could spend SFr30 billion on military hardware

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Congo blames Uganda for murder of Red Cross workers

More

Swiss delegates upbeat about peace hopes in Mexico

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