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Swiss Politics

New price controller enters the fray

This content was published on Apr 28, 2004 Rudolf Strahm of the centre-left Social Democratic Party is taking over at a time when businesses and rightwing groups are calling for the post to be scrapped. The 60-year-old parliamentarian will take over from Marti, who has been the watchdog’s boss for eight years, on August 1 this year. The Swiss price watchdog – the…

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Swiss business stands to gain from EU enlargement

This content was published on Apr 27, 2004 But he said enlargement would also underscore the need for Switzerland to conclude a series of outstanding bilateral treaties with the EU. Featherstone took up the post of ambassador on March 31. It is his first ambassadorial posting. Having previously headed the EU department of the British foreign office (1998-2003), he led the team overseeing…

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Geneva marks half a century of peacemaking

This content was published on Apr 26, 2004 A series of debates and a new book are offering an in-depth look at the city’s evolution as a platform for peace and the changing nature of Swiss neutrality. “In the spring of 1954, everyone feared a third world war involving nuclear weapons,” said Guy Mettan, whose historical account of the period, entitled “Genève: Ville…

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Austrian MEP predicts Swiss membership of EU

This content was published on Apr 24, 2004 Austrian member of the European Parliament Paul Rübig believes that Switzerland – which is not in the EU – could soon choose to renew its membership application, which is on hold. He says this would be more likely if other traditionally eurosceptic countries such as Norway entered the EU over the next couple of years.…

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Swiss Politics

UN accused of failing human rights victims

This content was published on Apr 23, 2004 The UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) wrapped up its 60th annual session in Geneva on Friday, amid criticism that it was too soft on governments that abuse human rights. “The commission has moved away from naming and shaming countries in favour of providing violators with technical assistance and that’s very negative,” said Adrien-Claude Zoller, the…

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Schröder promises backing for Swiss bilaterals

This content was published on Apr 23, 2004 Schröder held talks with Joseph Deiss in Berlin on Friday ahead of ministerial negotiations on nine accords expected in May. Switzerland is hoping to conclude agreement on a second set of treaties, after years of tortuous negotiations. The key sticking point is the EU’s Schengen treaty on cross-border crime – the Swiss want an opt-out…

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Swiss call for open weapons debate at UN

This content was published on Apr 23, 2004 The call comes as the UN Security Council considers a new resolution aimed at preventing the procurement of such weapons by militant groups. Staehelin told the Security Council on Thursday that Switzerland was fully aware of the risk of individuals or terrorist groups getting their hands on WMD. He said Switzerland agreed there was an…

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Swiss Politics

Government slams age discrimination in politics

This content was published on Apr 21, 2004 In a report published on Wednesday the government said imposing an upper age limit was discriminatory and should be scrapped. “From a socio-political point of view these age limits are unnecessary and inappropriate,” it said. “History has shown that older people are capable of great things in the fields of politics, culture or science.” A…

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Swiss Politics

Cracks emerge in Switzerland’s biggest party

This content was published on Apr 21, 2004 Moderates within Switzerland’s biggest party are critical of the hard line taken by the leadership, which has used highly controversial advertising campaigns to shore up party support. At an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday night, members of the party’s Basel City branch confirmed the cantonal party president, Angelika Zanolari, in her position following attempts by moderates…

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Schweiger looks to put Radicals back on track

This content was published on Apr 16, 2004 The corporate lawyer replaces Christiane Langenberger who stepped down after the party’s poor showing in last October’s parliamentary elections. Schweiger, a 59-year-old senator from canton Zug, beat off his rival Georges Theiler, a member of the House of Representatives, by 192 votes to 95 in an election by party delegates on Friday. The new party…

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