Swiss Politics

Swiss experts welcome G8 aid packages

This content was published on Jul 8, 2005 British Prime Minister Tony Blair spoke on Friday of a “$50 billion uplift” in aid but did not give a timetable for increasing funds. With a last-minute pledge from Japan, Blair won a key victory from the world’s leading industrialised powers, announcing that aid to Africa would rise from the current $25 billion (SFr32.6 billion)…

Swiss Politics

Expert hails G8 discussions on Africa

This content was published on Jul 7, 2005 In an interview carried out before the London attacks on Thursday, Nicolas Imboden also highlighted successful Swiss cooperation with Africa. Leaders from the world’s eight most powerful industrialised countries have been meeting in Gleneagles, Scotland. One of the issues that was due to be discussed – before the events in London – was cancelling African…

Swiss Politics

Development aid shackled by budget constraints

This content was published on Jul 1, 2005 Walter Fust told swissinfo that a peer review carried out by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development did not take into account Swiss budget constraints. Fust, director of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), was given the results of the review on Thursday in Paris. The last evaluation was carried out in…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland hosts talks on Kosovo

This content was published on Jun 30, 2005 Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey opened the round-table discussions, entitled “Kosovo and the Region Prepare for Change”, on Saturday. The high-ranking decision-makers have come mainly from Serbia and Montenegro, including Kosovo, but also from Albania and Macedonia, as well as from Switzerland, the European Union and the United States. Opening the conference, Calmy-Rey said it…

Swiss Politics

No progress at Kosovo talks

This content was published on Jun 30, 2005 The high-ranking decision-makers came mainly from Serbia and Montenegro, including Kosovo, but also from Albania and Macedonia. The sides failed to give ground at the weekend meeting in the city of Lucerne, according to Allen Kassof, the conference organiser. He said Serbia’s neighbours, as well as the international community would have to continue to guarantee…

Biometric passports take their time

This content was published on Jun 29, 2005 But travellers to the United States will be able to enter the country without a visa if they hold the latest version of the Swiss passport. After October 26, the rules are set to change. After this date, those with older passports will have to apply for a visa before being allowed on to American…

Swiss Politics

Rich nations debt plan gets Swiss support

This content was published on Jun 29, 2005 Swiss officials also confirmed that Switzerland would increase its spending on development aid, but non-governmental organisations say they are not satisfied “Switzerland […] welcomes in principle the recently announced intention of the G8 to cancel the multilateral debt of heavily indebted poor countries,” said Serge Chappatte at a United Nations meeting in New York on…

Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey pushes for closer ties with US

This content was published on Jun 28, 2005 During talks with her US counterpart, Condoleezza Rice, Calmy-Rey also expressed her concerns about the fate of prisoners at the Guantanamo base in Cuba. The Swiss foreign minister said she had had a “fruitful” and “friendly” meeting with Rice. “Together we managed to create a solid foundation for a future structured, dynamic and constructive dialogue,”…

Swiss Politics

Bullying won’t work with Iran, says Swiss expert

This content was published on Jun 27, 2005 In articles published in Monday’s newspapers, Pellaud says avoiding confrontation and building confidence is the only way progress will be made with Teheran. Pellaud, former deputy director-general of the IAEA, was writing with Tim Guldimann, former Swiss ambassador to Teheran. Switzerland represents United States interests in Iran. No sooner had Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad been confirmed as…

Swiss Politics

Social Democrats demand third cabinet post

This content was published on Jun 25, 2005 At a meeting in canton Fribourg on Saturday, party members also called for a yes vote in September’s referendum on a key bilateral treaty with the European Union. The party president, Hans-Jürg Fehr, said Switzerland’s second largest party, together with the Greens, was deserving of the third post. For the first time, he said, the…

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Swiss experts welcome G8 aid packages

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Expert hails G8 discussions on Africa

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Development aid shackled by budget constraints

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Switzerland hosts talks on Kosovo

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No progress at Kosovo talks

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Biometric passports take their time

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Rich nations debt plan gets Swiss support

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Calmy-Rey pushes for closer ties with US

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Bullying won’t work with Iran, says Swiss expert

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Social Democrats demand third cabinet post

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