Swiss Identity

Swiss court to announce decision next week on German request for legal aid

This content was published on Jan 28, 2000 A court in canton Nidwalden says it will not announce its decision until next week on whether to extend legal assistance to German prosecutors investigating secret donations to the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The court froze a German request for assistance after some of those named in the case lodged an appeal. The German authorities…

Demographics

Geneva issues arrest warrant for former Kremlin official

This content was published on Jan 27, 2000 Swiss prosecutors have intensified their investigations into alleged high-level Russian money laundering by issuing their first international arrest warrant against a former Kremlin official, Pavel Borodin (picture). They are expected to issue more arrest warrants in the “Mabetex” affair soon. The Geneva investigating magistrate in charge of the case, Daniel Devaud, confirmed reports that Borodin,…

Demographics

Dreifuss: Switzerland will fight racism by teaching tolerance

This content was published on Jan 27, 2000 The interior minister, Ruth Dreifuss, says Switzerland wants to fight racism and anti-Semitism mainly by teaching tolerance. Speaking at an international conference on the Holocaust in Sweden, Dreifuss said she also wanted to see measures against the spread of racist propaganda on the Internet. “Many concrete measures and common efforts are necessary to maintain our…

Demographics

People’s Party rejects racism accusation

This content was published on Jan 26, 2000 The Swiss People’s Party has rejected accusations in a Council of Europe report that it encourages racism and xenophobia. The party’s election posters (pictured) have drawn criticism at home for their controversial focus on foreigners. A leading party member dismissed the claim as wrong and insulting. Maximilian Reimann, a member of the Swiss senate, said…

Demographics

Swiss magistrate issues arrest warrants for Elf executives

This content was published on Jan 26, 2000 An investigating magistrate in Geneva has issued international arrest warrants against two former executives of the French oil company, Elf. The men are wanted for questioning in connection with Elf’s acquisition of the former East German, Leuna oil refinery. The deal has been linked to the bribery scandal engulfing Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Legal…

History

Swiss schools hold competition to promote religious tolerance

This content was published on Jan 25, 2000 Schools in Switzerland have been holding a competition to promote more understanding among Christians, Jews and Moslems. Those who came up with the most innovative ways of promoting religious tolerance were presented with awards at a special ceremony in Zurich. Intolerance towards others’ religious beliefs is not hard to find. Moslems and Christians routinely kill…

Demographics

Swiss justice minister calls for tougher laws against money laundering

This content was published on Jan 25, 2000 The Justice Minister, Ruth Metzler, has called for tougher laws to fight money laundering in Switzerland. She said existing legislation had been successful, but that it now needed to be extended. However, she resisted calls to restrict Swiss banking secrecy. Ruth Metzler’s address to journalists in Geneva was long on rhetoric, but short on detail.…

Demographics

Holocaust conference: Switzerland wants research into past to benefit future

This content was published on Jan 25, 2000 A Swiss delegation led by the interior minister, Ruth Dreifuss, is attending a three-day conference on the Holocaust which opened in Sweden on Wednesday. Switzerland says it will emphasize the need for research on the Holocaust to be focused on the future, in order to prevent a resurgence of the intolerance and racism which made…

Demographics

Nature group launches effort to protect lynx

This content was published on Jan 25, 2000 Tito the lynx is on the Internet. Switzerland’s most renowned feline predator, once threatened with the death penalty because of repeated attacks against sheep, is the star of a campaign to save the lynx from extinction. The campaign has been launched by Switzerland’s largest nature protection organisation, Pro Natura, which says that the lynx is…

Demographics

German auditors come up empty in CDU probe

This content was published on Jan 25, 2000 Auditors in Germany have failed to find the source of secret donations to the Christian Democratic party (CDU), during a probe into party financing. The news raises the prospect that money deposited in Swiss bank accounts may provide some important clues in the CDU’s spiralling political funding scandal. Auditors for the CDU said they had…

Swiss Identity

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Sign in and personalize Swissinfo

Swiss Identity

More

Swiss court to announce decision next week on German request for legal aid

More

Geneva issues arrest warrant for former Kremlin official

More

Dreifuss: Switzerland will fight racism by teaching tolerance

More

People’s Party rejects racism accusation

More

Swiss magistrate issues arrest warrants for Elf executives

More

Swiss schools hold competition to promote religious tolerance

More

Swiss justice minister calls for tougher laws against money laundering

More

Holocaust conference: Switzerland wants research into past to benefit future

More

Nature group launches effort to protect lynx

More

German auditors come up empty in CDU probe

Popular Stories

Most Discussed