Swiss Politics Archives - Page 1119 of 1338

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Swiss Politics

Golden windfall for state pension scheme

This content was published on Dec 8, 2005 The House of Representatives accepted the proposal last week, but the final decision depends on the outcome of a related nationwide vote, likely next year. The senators adopted the government’s compromise proposal without a debate but the result is an interim decision. In January 2005, the centre-left Social Democratic Party launched a people’s initiative which…

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Red crystal tests Swiss diplomacy

This content was published on Dec 8, 2005 Their decision to withdraw their backing skewered Swiss hopes of adopting the red crystal by consensus. Ten days ago a landmark cooperation agreement – brokered by the Swiss – was signed in Geneva by the Israeli and Palestinian emergency services. Many saw this as removing the last remaining barrier preventing all the signatory states to…

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Swiss Politics

New Red Cross emblem leaves bitter taste

This content was published on Dec 8, 2005 The Swiss government said it was betrayed by a number of Middle East countries after adoption of the “red crystal” had to be put to a vote rather than accepted by consensus. The vote in the early hours of Thursday morning followed three days of often bitter wrangling in Geneva. The emblem was finally adopted…

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Swiss Politics

Quake victims face “race for survival”

This content was published on Dec 7, 2005 The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) says it is racing against time to provide shelter for survivors. Last week the International Organisation for Migration said that most of the tents being given to some of the 3.5 million people made homeless in northwest Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir were not designed to cope with…

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Swiss Politics

Leuenberger elected 2006 Swiss president

This content was published on Dec 7, 2005 Leuenberger received 159 of 225 valid votes for the largely ceremonial post, which is shared among the seven cabinet ministers on a one-year, rotating basis. The 59-year-old Social Democrat from Zurich has been a cabinet minister since 1995 when he replaced Otto Stich. Leuenberger is the minister in charge of transport, energy, communications and environment…

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Swiss Politics

Calls to boost the role of sport

This content was published on Dec 6, 2005 The three-day meeting marked the end of the United Nations International Year of Sport. The conference adopted a ten-point programme, dubbed “Call to action”, on Tuesday. It appealed to all parties concerned to use the legacy of the UN International Year of Sport to promote peace worldwide, and recognise the role of sport in education…

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Swiss Politics

Serbs question Kosovo adviser’s impartiality

This content was published on Dec 6, 2005 Thomas Fleiner, head of Fribourg University’s Federalism Institute, was asked by Belgrade in November to advise the team of Serb negotiators. In an interview with the Belgrade-based weekly magazine Nin, Tadic indirectly questioned Fleiner’s independence, and whether his institute’s research is funded by public money. The Serb leader said it would be reasonable to clarify…

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Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey calls for unity on Red Cross emblem

This content was published on Dec 5, 2005 The two-day meeting attended by representatives from the 192 signatory states to the Geneva Conventions is the result of tightrope diplomacy by Switzerland. Opening the diplomatic conference on Monday, Micheline Calmy-Rey spoke of the need for a third humanitarian symbol – the so-called “red crystal” – that was free of all national, political or religious…

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Swiss Politics

Conference highlights importance of sport

This content was published on Dec 5, 2005 The Swiss president, Samuel Schmid, greeted around 400 delegates from the worlds of sport, politics, business and science on Sunday to the conference, which is taking place near Biel. The meeting is organised by the United Nations special adviser on sport for development and peace, Adolf Ogi, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation…

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Swiss Politics

Judgement day looms for new Red Cross symbol

This content was published on Dec 4, 2005 The two-day meeting is the result of tightrope diplomacy by Switzerland to resolve the long-standing issue of a third humanitarian symbol. Approval of the so-called “red crystal” by the signatory states moved a step closer last week when the Israeli and Palestinian emergency services signed a groundbreaking cooperation agreement. The accord, brokered by the Swiss…

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