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Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey eyes “membership light” with EU

This content was published on Oct 30, 2005 But Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin said the current policy of strengthening ties through bilateral treaties with Brussels would go a long way. Calmy-Rey said a status quo in relations with the EU was unrealistic. “We have to prepare for all eventualities. New questions will arise, also within the EU,” Calmy-Rey told the SonntagsZeitung newspaper. She…

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Swiss in search of neutral global aid symbol

This content was published on Oct 29, 2005 On Saturday she met both her Egyptian counterpart and the president of the country’s first aid service, before travelling to Israel, the Palestinian territories and Lebanon. The Swiss foreign minister’s whirlwind three-day tour is part of efforts by Switzerland – the depositary state of the Geneva Conventions – to find a new humanitarian emblem. Switzerland…

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Swiss Politics

Couchepin sees long life for bilateral EU ties

This content was published on Oct 29, 2005 He said the current policy of bilateral accords with Brussels would remain a priority for some time to come. “I bet you that the policy of bilateral treaties will go a long way. There is no other political option,” Couchepin told the Saturday edition of tabloid Blick newspaper. He said full EU membership was not…

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Money trumped human rights for Swiss

This content was published on Oct 27, 2005 This is the conclusion of research findings published on Thursday by the Swiss National Science Foundation. The government refused to comment on the findings. “Relations between Switzerland and South Africa”, carried out by Bern University historian Peter Hug, is the last of ten reports into the issue commissioned by the foundation. It reveals that Swiss…

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Swiss Politics

Report sheds light on apartheid darkness

This content was published on Oct 27, 2005 “Relations between Switzerland and South Africa”, carried out by Bern University historian Peter Hug for the Swiss National Science Foundation, is heavily critical of the Swiss government. Hug says Switzerland’s decision not to apply sanctions imposed on South Africa by the United Nations benefited the regime in Pretoria. Swiss connections to South Africa were closest…

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Swiss Politics

EU membership application not to be withdrawn

This content was published on Oct 26, 2005 A report on all the options regarding the EU, including membership, will be presented by next summer, to help decide the ultimate direction on Europe. Foreign minister Micheline Calmy-Rey said that the government was determined to maintain a “policy of active cooperation” in Europe. A purely defensive, fearful approach to Europe, always saying no and…

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Swiss Politics

Swiss keep options open on EU membership

This content was published on Oct 26, 2005 swissinfo spoke to her just before the Swiss government decided to leave the country’s membership application on ice in Brussels. The cabinet said on Wednesday that EU membership remained a “long-term option” for Switzerland. Speaking after the cabinet meeting, Economics Minister Joseph Deiss said there was no reason to withdraw the application, which has been…

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Swiss Politics

Switzerland goes in search of better press

This content was published on Oct 23, 2005 The former journalist says he hopes to increase foreign coverage by tapping into Swiss embassies and flagging up the activities of international Geneva. After a short stint at the bi-monthly Bilan business magazine, the former adviser to cabinet minister Pascal Couchepin has re-joined the federal administration. The foreign ministry has charged him with fostering relations…

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Swiss Politics

Conference hails “landmark” day for Bosnia

This content was published on Oct 21, 2005 The two-day conference, which wrapped up on Friday, was being held in Geneva to discuss the future of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The European Commission announced on Friday that it had recommended the start of long-delayed talks on closer ties between the EU and Bosnia. Bosnia is the only country in the Balkans which has not yet started…

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Swiss Politics

Swiss likely to approve both November votes

This content was published on Oct 21, 2005 The gfs institute survey, which was commissioned by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation – swissinfo’s parent company – comes a month before the two issues go to a vote. The Swiss will go to the polls on November 27 to decide whether the labour law should be modified to allow Sunday shopping at major railways stations…

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