Swiss Politics

Schmid affirms Swiss commitment to Kosovo

This content was published on Aug 16, 2006 Schmid also visited Swiss soldiers deployed in Kosovo as part of a Nato-led peacekeeping force, as well as those that are part of a European Union mission. The minister’s trip to the region comes as the new United Nations chief of mission for Kosovo, Joachim Rücker, ruled out partition of the troubled province. The ethnic…

Swiss Politics

More cash needed for Lebanon aid operation

This content was published on Aug 15, 2006 Officials said they are re-assessing the needs of the Lebanese population and will shift the focus of aid operations following the ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militia. Toni Frisch, head of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) said the additional money was intended for relief efforts of United Nations agencies and Swiss aid organisations.…

Swiss Politics

Coalition rejects “inhumane” asylum law

This content was published on Aug 14, 2006 The “Coalition for a Humanitarian Switzerland”, representing 36 non-governmental organisations, claims that it could realistically win the September referendum despite limited financial means. The alliance is highly critical of the new law, which is says “generates lots of hot air, is inhumane, attacks the wrong target, exacerbates the criminalisation of asylum seekers and overburdens the…

Swiss Politics

Voters still divided over harsher asylum law

This content was published on Aug 13, 2006 The new law, which cuts benefits for asylum seekers, comes to a nationwide vote on September 24, along with new legislation on immigration. Thirty per cent of voters are opposed to tightening the existing legislation on asylum and 27 per cent are still undecided. The poll, conducted by the Swiss Institute of Public Opinion and…

Swiss Politics

Swiss eye Cuban situation with interest

This content was published on Aug 10, 2006 Bern has a particular interest in the republic as it represents the interests of the United States in Havana and those of Cuba in Washington. Despite all the confusion about what is really happening in the Cuban hierarchy, ties between Bern and Havana remain on an even keel. Castro recently told the nation that his…

Swiss Politics

Aid

This content was published on Aug 8, 2006 Switzerland’s development aid budget is small and therefore must consider the quality of projects rather than quantity. Like many other countries, Switzerland does not attempt to replace local know-how, but rather to encourage it. This type of aid focuses on providing expertise and ensures funding is spent in the countries where the projects are carried…

Humanitarian law

This content was published on Aug 8, 2006 June 24, 1859: 24,000 bodies and 40,000 injured lie on the plain of Solferino in Italy after battle. Horrified by the carnage, Henry Dunant draws up principles aimed at cutting down on the barbarism of war. The idea for the Red Cross is born. Four years later, the first Geneva Conventions are signed, with Switzerland…

Federalism

This content was published on Aug 8, 2006 Until 1848, Switzerland was basically a league of independent states. Alliances, conquests and the Reformation helped shape the Swiss ability to co-exist with four languages and cultures. Switzerland is today the federal state with the longest experience of co-habitation, giving it a certain expertise. 15,000 inhabitants in canton Appenzell Inner Rhodes. This population has its…

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…

Swiss Politics

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