Swiss Politics

Young Swiss seek political recognition

This content was published on Nov 4, 2005 Although previous efforts to influence political decision-making have had little impact, they are determined to keep up the pressure. Young parliamentarians are looking at new ways of making their mark on politics, spokesman Christoph Musy said on Friday. The youth parliament has been in session since Thursday. The participants, ranging in age from 14 to…

Swiss Politics

Mine clearers halt work in Sudan after ambush

This content was published on Nov 3, 2005 The Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) said it did not know who was behind the attack earlier this week on a convoy of workers. The FSD said that a mine clearance team working for the United Nations World Food Programme’s road reconstruction and rehabilitation programme was ambushed on Monday. The workers had been on…

Swiss Politics

ICRC president visits earthquake region

This content was published on Nov 1, 2005 He said food and accommodation must be provided so that people affected by the earthquake on October 8 can remain near their villages. “A further break-up of community life would make the psychological trauma that these people have suffered even worse,” Kellenberger said. “Our top priority now is saving lives and protecting existing livelihoods during…

Swiss Politics

North African refugees helped to return home

This content was published on Nov 1, 2005 But it decided not to expel rejected Iraqi asylum seekers, who will be allowed to stay on in Switzerland temporarily. The Swiss programme for North Africans will run until October 31, 2007 and is aimed at around 2,400 nationals from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania who applied for asylum in Switzerland before November 1,…

Swiss Politics

Historic SMS vote deemed ballot box success

This content was published on Oct 30, 2005 More than 11 per cent of the electorate used the Short Messaging System (SMS) to cast their vote in a local poll on Sunday. The ballot is part of a series of trials in several regions of the country to introduce e-voting nationwide. Officials said 445 citizens of Bülach – or 11.6 per cent –…

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…

Swiss Politics

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…

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…

Swiss Politics

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…

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…

Swiss Politics

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Sign in and personalize Swissinfo