Swiss Politics

politics

This content was published on Aug 8, 2006 A small country with few natural resources, Switzerland has to be smart to be relevant – in the political world too. Thanks to concepts such as federalism – encouraging co-habitation – and humanitarian law – proposed by Red Cross founder Henry Dunant – as well as backroom diplomacy and development aid, Switzerland has managed to…

Diplomacy

This content was published on Aug 8, 2006 Swiss neutrality, born during Europe’s Wars of Religion and recognised by the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, allows Switzerland to play a mediation role. Geneva, where the League of Nations and then the United Nations have been based since 1919, is one such place where it acts regularly as a go-between. But since Switzerland joined…

Mixed Middle East football team brings hope

This content was published on Aug 6, 2006 The “Peace Team” overcame enormous difficulties to get to Bad Ragaz in eastern Switzerland to compete in the United Nations-supported International Swiss Under-16 Cup. It was unsure whether the mixed squad, which is made up of nine Israelis and nine Palestinians, would make it to the four-day tournament, which finishes on Sunday. Several Israeli players…

Swiss Politics

“Lebanon is experiencing a real tragedy”

This content was published on Aug 4, 2006 Barras told swissinfo that the fighting was also harming the population and wrecking a nation that had finally become a symbol of religious co-existence for the region. swissinfo: The last few Swiss wanting to get out of Lebanon left a few days ago. How well did the evacuations of nationals go? François Barras: I wouldn’t…

Swiss Politics

Swiss aid struggles to get through in Lebanon

This content was published on Aug 3, 2006 This is especially true in the south of the country, where the heaviest exchanges of fire between Israelis and Hezbollah militia have taken place. According to the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the situation in Lebanon is nothing less than a humanitarian emergency. The organisation estimates that almost one million people –…

Swiss Politics

Neutrality needs to evolve says ex-diplomat

This content was published on Aug 2, 2006 But he tells swissinfo that the current definition of neutrality should be reworked to take into account the changing nature of war. By launching a massive attack against Hezbollah militia forces in southern Lebanon, Israel has helped reignite the debate about Swiss neutrality. On Wednesday, Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey told the Le Temps newspaper…

Swiss Politics

Swiss National Day

This content was published on Aug 1, 2006

Swiss celebrate National Day

This content was published on Aug 1, 2006 This year’s president, Moritz Leuenberger, said on radio and television that the Swiss were not “indifferent” to the fate of the victims of the Israel-Lebanon conflict. Leuenberger said Switzerland wanted to see an “end to the violence”. The transport minister said the Swiss aspired to live in a country where everyone had a chance to…

Swiss backstage diplomacy grows over Iran

This content was published on Jul 31, 2006 Iran has asked Bern to organise an international conference to resolve the standoff with the West over Tehran’s nuclear programme, it has been reported. The Swiss foreign ministry and Tehran have so far declined to comment on the report which appeared in the Swiss newspaper, the NZZ am Sonntag. There has, however, been a scurry…

Swiss Politics

Deiss confirms his pro-European Union stance

This content was published on Jul 31, 2006 Deiss, aged 60 and a member of the Christian Democratic Party, tells swissinfo that Switzerland’s interests would be better served as a member of the European Union. He says Switzerland should be more aware of its economic power and could contribute more at the political level in today’s globalised world. Deiss also criticises those conservative…

Swiss Politics

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Swiss Politics

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politics

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Diplomacy

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Mixed Middle East football team brings hope

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“Lebanon is experiencing a real tragedy”

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Swiss aid struggles to get through in Lebanon

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Neutrality needs to evolve says ex-diplomat

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Swiss National Day

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Swiss celebrate National Day

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Swiss backstage diplomacy grows over Iran

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Deiss confirms his pro-European Union stance

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