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Swiss Politics

One for seven, seven for one

This content was published on May 26, 2007 This is only part of what sets the Swiss executive branch apart from other governments in the world. Instead of executive power being vested in an individual, it is held by a committee. Unlike other countries, there is no prime minister or head of state. Since 1848, the Swiss cabinet, known as the Federal Council,…

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Swiss Politics

Cluster bomb ban remains unclear

This content was published on May 26, 2007 Swiss delegates at a conference in the Peruvian capital Lima said that nations could not reach a consensus this week on just what constitutes this type of munition. “We could not agree on a definition of what is a cluster bomb and therefore on what should be banned,” added the head of the Swiss delegation,…

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Swiss Politics

Swiss proud of their humanitarian tradition

This content was published on May 25, 2007 In recent years the legacy of this humanitarian tradition has been claimed by both sides of the political debate on a more restrictive asylum policy. When Huguenots and Waldenses were persecuted for their faith in 16th and 17th century France, several thousand people fled to Switzerland and found acceptance in the Protestant cantons, particularly in…

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Swiss Politics

Switzerland and the EU edge closer

This content was published on May 25, 2007 Swiss voters have had ample opportunity to express themselves on the question of European politics and have made it clear that they are not interested in joining the EU. Switzerland’s membership application, dating back to1992, has been lodged but lies dormant in Brussels. It was officially frozen on February 5, 1993. All indications are that…

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Swiss Politics

Moving towards the UN in slow motion

This content was published on May 25, 2007 This reluctance despite the fact that the European headquarters of the UN is located in Geneva, along with a host of UN special agencies. When, on March 3, 2002, the Swiss were again called upon to vote on joining the world body, the decision turned out to be quite close. Just 55 per cent were…

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Swiss Politics

Neutrality remains a core principle

This content was published on May 25, 2007 Neutrality means that a state does not take part in armed conflict. However, that does not prevent Switzerland from carrying out humanitarian work in war and conflict situations. Switzerland has been neutral since 1516. One year earlier the troops of the confederation were active in armed conflict for the last time. The French emerged victorious…

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Swiss Politics

ELECTIONS

This content was published on May 25, 2007

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Swiss Politics

Swiss works to bring hope to Lebanon

This content was published on May 25, 2007 Peter Grütter now works for communications firm Cisco Systems, one of five United States companies responsible for the “Partnership for Lebanon”, an initiative to help the people of Lebanon build a better future. Sporadic gunfire erupted on Thursday inside the Nahr el-Bared camp where fighters from the al-Qaida-inspired Fatah Islam militant group were barricaded. They…

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Swiss Politics

Government at odds over National Day

This content was published on May 24, 2007 On Thursday, this year’s president, Micheline Calmy-Rey, said she would still go to the Rütli on August 1 even though plans to hold an official event there have been cancelled. The Rütli commission called off the official celebrations saying too many obstacles stood in the way of organising the event on the meadow, located on…

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Swiss Politics

Cabinet moots reforms, but not this year

This content was published on May 23, 2007 As part of a possible reform, the method of allocating the seven portfolios is also being reviewed. Final decisions are expected after the parliamentary and cabinet elections later this year. President Micheline Calmy-Rey said the interior and the economics ministries had been mandated to examine options to bring higher education and research under one roof.…

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