Swiss Abroad

Denner initiative goes to heart of Swiss popular democracy

This content was published on Feb 3, 2000 The supermarket chain, Denner, has launched a people’s initiative aimed at speeding up the initiative process. The move highlights the difficulties in Switzerland’s much-cherished and much-abused system of popular democracy. The signatures of 100,000 Swiss voters are enough to force a national referendum on removing or adding a new article to the constitution. This basic…

Swiss Politics

Right-wingers force vote on bilateral treaty with European Union

This content was published on Feb 3, 2000 Two small right-wing parties in Switzerland have formally challenged the bilateral treaty with the European Union, forcing a nationwide vote on the issue later this year. The parties, the Swiss Democrats and the Lega dei Ticinese, say they handed in some 70,000 signatures at the federal chancellery in Berne. If 50,000 of those signatures are…

Swiss Politics

Swiss centre-right parties reject pressure on Austria

This content was published on Feb 2, 2000 Switzerland’s three main conservative parties have rejected international efforts to put pressure on Austria, where the far-right Freedom Party, led by Jörg Haider (pictured), is on the verge of entering into a coalition. The parties, all members of Switzerland’s four-party government, came out strongly against threats by members of the European Union to partially isolate…

Swiss Politics

Simmen named new head of commission on foreigners

This content was published on Feb 2, 2000 A leading member of Switzerland’s Christian Democratic Party, Rosemarie Simmen, has been named to take over as president of the troubled federal commission on foreigners. The cabinet appointed Simmen to replace Fulvio Caccia who resigned along with 14 of the commission’s 29 members two weeks ago in protest at the decision by the justice minister,…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland presses Italy for greater cooperation

This content was published on Feb 1, 2000 The Swiss President, Adolf Ogi (pictured right), has held talks with his Italian counterpart, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, about European and security issues, as well as the thorny issue of cooperation over refugees. Ogi called on Italy to support the ratification of Switzerland’s bilateral treaty with the European Union, a spokesman for Ogi said after the…

Swiss Politics

World leaders bid Davos farewell

This content was published on Feb 1, 2000 The World Economic Forum summit in the Swiss resort of Davos has ended after five often frenetic days of meetings and speeches. The official highlight was a speech by President Clinton (pictured). But most of the action took place on the sidelines, with protesters slamming globalisation, and diplomats discussing everything from trade to peace in…

Swiss Politics

Indonesia seeks Swiss aid to recover funds

This content was published on Jan 31, 2000 Indonesia will renew its request to Switzerland for help in searching for funds allegedly deposited in Swiss banks, the Indonesian president, Abdurrahim Wahid, told the president, Adolf Ogi in Berne. (Picture). At their meeting, Wahid told Ogi and other Swiss cabinet members that the new request for judicial assistance would be presented shortly. A previous…

Swiss Politics

Deiss attends Moscow conference on Middle East

This content was published on Jan 30, 2000 The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, (pictured left) is attending a high-level conference in Moscow, chaired by the United States and Russia, on measures to support the Middle East peace process. Switzerland is playing a support role behind the scenes. The visit by Deiss to the two-day meeting follows high-level talks over the weekend about…

Swiss Politics

Deiss upbeat about political talks at World Economic Forum

This content was published on Jan 30, 2000 The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, has given an upbeat assessment of the contacts he and other Swiss government ministers have had at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos. Mr Deiss told a news conference in Davos he had benefitted from the informal atmosphere that had brought together so many of the world’s…

Swiss Politics

Clinton holds brief talks with Swiss leaders

This content was published on Jan 29, 2000 President Clinton also held talks with Swiss government leaders, including the President, Adolf Ogi, during his stay in Davos. Relations between the two countries were described as excellent. Clinton met a Swiss delegation headed by Ogi, and including the foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, finance minister, Kaspar Villiger and the economics minister, Pascal Couchepin. “The friendly…

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Swiss Abroad

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Denner initiative goes to heart of Swiss popular democracy

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Right-wingers force vote on bilateral treaty with European Union

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Swiss centre-right parties reject pressure on Austria

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Simmen named new head of commission on foreigners

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Switzerland presses Italy for greater cooperation

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World leaders bid Davos farewell

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Indonesia seeks Swiss aid to recover funds

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Deiss attends Moscow conference on Middle East

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Deiss upbeat about political talks at World Economic Forum

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Clinton holds brief talks with Swiss leaders

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