Swiss Abroad

How the UN “Swiss paradox” was resolved

This content was published on Mar 2, 2012 It came after more than half a century of refusing to be part of the body, out of fears linked above all to safeguarding Switzerland’s cherished neutrality. “The Swiss have arrived. We have waited a long time,” said the then UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, as he welcomed the Swiss delegation ten years ago. Switzerland’s decision…

Swiss Politics

Burkhalter moves to reposition Swiss diplomacy

This content was published on Mar 1, 2012 Opening the 19th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, which was notable for its urgent debate on Syria, Burkhalter condemned “all the human rights violations committed in Syria”. He did this as other Western countries, including the United States and France, explicitly condemned the regime led by Bashar al-Assad. It signalled…

Swiss Politics

Court expels Kosovan politician

This content was published on Mar 1, 2012 Azem Syla, a Kosovan parliamentarian and former defence minister, was granted asylum in Switzerland in 1994 and received a C permit in 1999. But the Administrative Court of Solothurn ruled that as defence minister Syla should never have left his country during a time of war. It ordered he leave Switzerland by May 15. The court…

Swiss Politics

How the UN “Swiss paradox” was resolved

This content was published on Mar 1, 2012 It came after more than half a century of refusing to be part of the body, out of fears linked above all to safeguarding Switzerland’s cherished neutrality. “The Swiss have arrived. We have waited a long time,” said the then UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, as he welcomed the Swiss delegation ten years ago. Switzerland’s decision…

Swiss Politics

Bid to make people’s initiatives stricter

This content was published on Feb 29, 2012 The Senate followed the House of Representatives in backing the cabinet’s proposal, voting 21 to 20 in favour on Wednesday. People’s initiatives allow for any Swiss citizen to put forward a proposal to amend the constitution. It can go to a nationwide vote if 100,000 signatures are gathered in favour of the amendment within 18…

Swiss Politics

Vote issues fail to ignite emotions

This content was published on Feb 29, 2012 Researchers also found that the campaign in the run-up to the vote has been lackluster as citizens struggle to make up their minds on this and four other issues. Compared with a previous poll in January, backing for an initiative by a prominent environmental group and centre-left parties has dropped by nearly ten per cent.…

Swiss Politics

Parliament snubs national language rule

This content was published on Feb 28, 2012 The House of Representatives rejected a call by a French-speaking Green Party representative to draft an amendment to the language law. He argued that schools in the majority German-speaking part of the country were sending the wrong signal if they preferred English over a national Swiss language. He said students from the different language regions…

Swiss Politics

War materiel exports reach new peak

This content was published on Feb 28, 2012 The increase of 36 per cent on 2010 is due to the sale of 25 Swiss-built Pilatus PC-21 training aircraft to the United Arab Emirates. A Seco statement on Tuesday said the sale of aircraft was listed in the war materiel statistics because it could not be ruled out that the PC-21 plane could be adapted…

Swiss Politics

Financial policy tops parliament agenda

This content was published on Feb 27, 2012 Debates over the circumstances of the recent resignation of the Swiss National Bank president, as well as other financial policy issues, are also high on the agenda. In December, the Senate approved a deal granting information on US clients of Swiss banks to the authorities in Washington investigating suspected tax dodgers. The House of Representatives…

Swiss Politics

Burkhalter condemns Syrian rights violations

This content was published on Feb 27, 2012 Opening a four-week session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday, Burkhalter condemned human rights violations in Syria. The Syrian government led by President Bashar al-Assad has been involved in a violent crackdown against anti-government protesters which began more than a year ago. It is estimated more than 5,000 people have…

Page 991 of 1632

First … 989 990 991 992 993 … Last

Swiss Abroad

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Swiss Abroad

More

How the UN “Swiss paradox” was resolved

More

Burkhalter moves to reposition Swiss diplomacy

More

Court expels Kosovan politician

More

How the UN “Swiss paradox” was resolved

More

Bid to make people’s initiatives stricter

More

Vote issues fail to ignite emotions

More

Parliament snubs national language rule

More

War materiel exports reach new peak

More

Financial policy tops parliament agenda

More

Burkhalter condemns Syrian rights violations

Popular Stories

Most Discussed