Swiss Politics

Swiss accept trade-off at Human Rights Council

This content was published on Jun 19, 2007 The UN watchdog formally adopted a series of reforms to its future work, including how and when to launch investigations into some of the world’s worst rights offenders. “The final document is a balanced text and is the result of concessions made by all of us,” commented Blaise Godet, Switzerland’s ambassador to the UN in…

Swiss Politics

Funding for eastern Europe remains intact

This content was published on Jun 19, 2007 The Senate joined the House of Representatives in agreeing not to make cuts in existing aid programmes to eastern Europe to finance the contribution. During the final week of summer session, parliament also agreed a separate SFr730 million credit – an increase of SFr80 million – for projects in eastern European countries for the period…

Swiss Politics

Human Rights Council reaches compromise

This content was published on Jun 19, 2007 The Geneva-based watchdog – the result of a Swiss initiative – said that the new parameters were a compromise; China, in particular, had unsuccessfully battled to limit the body’s censure powers. The proposal was formally approved on Tuesday with 46 votes, only Canada came out against. The council also decided to drop Cuba and Belarus…

Swiss Politics

Iraqis seek a safe home in Switzerland

This content was published on Jun 18, 2007 More than 6,000 Iraqis are living in Switzerland. Some 2,500 have been granted refugee status and 2,690 have the provisional right to remain. A further 1,000 people are still going through the asylum process. They are part of the mass exodus of Iraqis since the war began. An estimated two million people have fled Iraq,…

Swiss Politics

Voters decide to cut benefits for the disabled

This content was published on Jun 17, 2007 The result was widely expected and comes as parliament considers plans to shore up the financing of the beleaguered insurance scheme. Nearly 60 per cent of voters came out in favour of annual spending cuts of about SFr500 million ($402 million) and a reduction by 20 per cent in the number of new beneficiaries each…

Swiss Politics

Swiss call for peaceful end to Gaza conflict

This content was published on Jun 17, 2007 In a statement on Sunday, the foreign ministry recognized the formation of a new emergency government sworn in by Abbas after Hamas seized control of Gaza last week following heavy factional fighting. The violence left Gaza increasingly isolated, a situation worsened on Sunday when an Israeli fuel company cut off deliveries to gas stations in…

Swiss Politics

Swiss demonstrate in support of refugees

This content was published on Jun 16, 2007 In a keynote address on Friday ahead of the national day of action, Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey called on the Swiss population to show more respect and openness for refugees and asylum seekers. Members of human rights and church organisations, as well as unions and political parties, attended the demonstration in the capital, demanding “fundamental…

Swiss Politics

Swiss hail “important progress” on ivory trade

This content was published on Jun 15, 2007 The 171-member Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) endorsed a compromise by African ministers on halting poaching while letting local communities benefit from ivory sales in regions where elephant numbers are rising. In the early hours of Friday, the last day of the conference in The Hague, African nations agreed to a massive…

Swiss Politics

Ziegler wants new status for hunger victims

This content was published on Jun 14, 2007 Switzerland’s Jean Ziegler also said biofuels could lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths from hunger worldwide. He said the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council could define the details together with the World Food Programme. The new status would require amending a 1951 UN convention granting refugee status to people fleeing racial, political or religious…

Swiss Politics

Swiss return funds to Taiwan in frigate scandal

This content was published on Jun 13, 2007 The justice ministry confirmed on Wednesday that proceedings for an additional $490 million blocked in Swiss bank accounts were continuing. The affair, dating back to 1991, involves the controversial $2.5 billion (SFr3.25 billion) sale of six Lafayette frigates to Taiwan by the French former state-owned firm, Elf Aquitaine. It is alleged that Elf Aquitaine, via…

Swiss Politics

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