Swiss Politics Archives - Page 1041 of 1339

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Swiss Politics

Racist incidents reach record high

This content was published on Jan 21, 2008 In a report the Federal Commission against Racism said there had been 355 reported cases of racism since 1995, when legislation came into force requiring the government to keep track of attacks. In all, half have been prosecuted. Jews were the most disproportionately targeted ethnic group, and the subject of roughly one quarter of all…

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Brussels puts pressure on Switzerland over tax

This content was published on Jan 20, 2008 He said that Switzerland was free to put forward its own plans to try to solve the problem but it could not simply sit it out. Brussels and Bern have in particular been arguing over tax breaks offered by some Swiss cantons to foreign companies. Reiterer made the comments in an interview with the Sonntag…

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More than 200 detained in Bern demonstration

This content was published on Jan 19, 2008 The event, which comes four days before the annual meeting of the Geneva-based World Economic Forum in the alpine resort of Davos, had been banned after fears of violence. The organisers of the demonstration, the “Alliance for a Global Opposition”, had said they would not respect the ban, with their leader, Giovanni A. Schumacher, explaining…

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Exports of Swiss wine in 2007 disappoint

This content was published on Jan 19, 2008 It reported on Saturday that the reason for what it called the “massive slump” was declining orders from Switzerland’s main customer, Germany. “By the end of September, only 560,000 litres of wine had been exported,” explained Othmar Stäheli, editor-in-chief of the Swiss Wine newspaper. Since exports in the fourth quarter of the year normally increase…

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Swiss Politics

Blocher holds sway at party meeting in Zurich

This content was published on Jan 19, 2008 Speaking at the traditional Albisgütli party meeting in Zurich, Blocher said it might launch a referendum against the extension of free movement of people to Romania and Bulgaria if Brussels does not accept Switzerland’s sovereignty in tax matters. He added that an accord concerning electricity was another bone of contention. The former justice minister, who…

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Swiss Politics

Campaign combats fighter jet noise

This content was published on Jan 18, 2008 They said the F/18 fighter aircraft were among the noisiest fighter jets. Parliament and the government have come out against the initiative, which will be put to a nationwide vote on February. Franz Weber, the man behind the initiative, said on Friday that not only the noise from the jets but also the air pollution…

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Swiss Politics

Foreign minister pushes bilateral deals with EU

This content was published on Jan 18, 2008 She came out in favour of a framework accord with Brussels to manage the various bilateral treaties concluded over the past few years and called on Swiss voters to accept a labour accord with Romania and Bulgaria. However, she recognised that some differences remain between the two sides. “When it comes to politics there can…

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Swiss Politics

Foreign minister pushes bilateral deals with EU

This content was published on Jan 18, 2008 She warned that a failure by Swiss voters to approve the extension of a labour accord to Romania and Bulgaria would jeopardise ties with the 27-nation bloc. The EU ambassador to Switzerland, Michael Reiterer echoed Calmy-Rey’s warning, but added that the free movement of labour between the EU and non-member state Switzerland benefited both sides.…

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Swiss Politics

New Year’s reception

This content was published on Jan 18, 2008 At the start of every year, the Swiss president receives diplomatic representatives from over 100 nations. (pictures and text: Christoph Balsiger, swissinfo)

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Chad likely armed Swiss-made aircraft

This content was published on Jan 17, 2008 On Thursday, Swiss officials confirmed that the PC-9 suspected of being used in attacks on Darfur was refitted to carry weapons. The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) said it was not clear whether the plane had been used for military purposes by the Chadian government, which is fighting rebels in the east of the…

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