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Swiss Politics

Did Switzerland give in to US pressure?

This content was published on May 30, 2008 On Friday the federal criminal court rejected a bail application by two Swiss brothers accused of supplying parts for Libya’s nuclear weapons programme. Experts criticise the lack of separation of powers and mounting speculation that the United States, concerned that its agents were implicated, had demanded the documents be destroyed. “The government is not above…

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How Maria got her Swiss passport in Meggen

This content was published on May 30, 2008 Ahead of a nationwide vote on naturalisation methods on Sunday, swissinfo travelled to Meggen to witness the procedure. Five years ago, the Federal Court outlawed ballot box decisions on citizenship requests, prompting a challenge from the rightwing People’s Party. The People’s Party argues it is up to communes to decide on the procedure – by…

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Swiss welcome cluster bomb ban

This content was published on May 29, 2008 The accord has also been hailed by the Swiss-run International Committee of the Red Cross, which described it as a major step forward for the protection of civilians. However, the Swiss defence ministry said it regretted that the major producer countries of the bombs, including the United States, Russia, China, India, Pakistan and Israel did…

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Schengen and Dublin rules set to be applied

This content was published on May 29, 2008 Parliament gave the go-ahead on Thursday after the House of Representatives voted in favour of the changes. The Senate had already given its approval earlier this year. The modifications mean that the Schengen and Dublin rules can be introduced from November 1. However delays in the parliamentary ratification process in three EU countries have made…

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Swiss Politics

EU policy hotly debated in parliament

This content was published on May 29, 2008 After six hours of discussion on Wednesday, the House of Representatives decided that a nationwide vote to be held on prolonging the agreement on the free movement of people should be separated from one on extending the right to the EU’s two newest members. The House decision follows the line of the Swiss government. The…

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Swiss Politics

Conference assesses Iraq’s status

This content was published on May 29, 2008 The Swedish meeting is evaluating the implementation of the ICI, a five-year peace and economic development agreement that was officially launched in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in May last year. Michael Ambühl, state secretary for foreign affairs, is heading the Swiss delegation. Governments are also set to discuss the cancellation of Iraq’s debt,…

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Swiss Politics

Couchepin to attend Beijing Olympics

This content was published on May 28, 2008 There had been uncertainty over his attendance since riots in Tibet in March, which left a number of people dead. Couchepin justified his decision on the grounds that Switzerland houses the seat of the International Olympic Committee and that it was therefore “natural” that he should go. He said his ministerial colleagues had left the…

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Swiss Politics

Parliament tackles labour accord and aid

This content was published on May 28, 2008 The session opened a week earlier than usual owing to the Euro 2008 football championship being co-hosted by Switzerland and neighbours Austria from June 7. Only the third and final week of the session will fall inside the championship but the agenda of meetings has been so arranged that football fans inside parliament will not…

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Swiss Politics

Petition aims to raise development funds

This content was published on May 26, 2008 Around 201,000 people signed the Together Against Poverty petition, presented to the federal chancellery on Monday. The NGOs behind the move say Switzerland needs to increase development aid from 0.4 to 0.7 per cent of its gross national product by 2015 if it wants to follow objectives set by the United Nations in 2000 to…

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Swiss Politics

ICRC chief blasts Myanmar junta

This content was published on May 25, 2008 Jakob Kellenberger, the president of the Swiss-run ICRC, was interviewed in the Sonntag newspaper on Sunday. “The government makes it impossible for us to fulfil our mission – to bring aid to the people in the conflict area on the Thai border,” he said. Apart from the devastating cyclone that hit in early May, the…

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