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Swiss Politics

Geneva Accord maps out new road to peace

This content was published on Nov 24, 2003 The Swiss foreign minister, Micheline Calmy-Rey, told swissinfo the accord was not a substitute for the “road map” but could provide a new impetus for peace. The “Geneva Accord” was signed by a former Israeli cabinet minister, Yossi Beilin, and his Palestinian counterpart, Yasser Abed Rabbo, in Jordan on October 12, following two years of…

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China lifts human rights taboo

This content was published on Nov 24, 2003 Peter Maurer’s comments came on the same day that President Pascal Couchepin was accused of giving the Chinese an easy ride on the same issues during his five-day visit to China. Maurer met a Chinese delegation for talks in Bern on Monday – the latest in a series of meetings between representatives from both countries.…

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Carter calls on US to support peace accord

This content was published on Nov 24, 2003 For Carter, the symbolic peace accord is a “culmination” of all previous accords between Israelis and Palestinians. In an interview with swissinfo, Jimmy Carter said he was “very grateful” to Switzerland for supporting the Geneva Accord. While urging the Bush administration to endorse the initiative, Carter said it was equally important that Washington had not…

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Swiss Politics

Jimmy Carter: Camp David to the Geneva Accord

This content was published on Nov 24, 2003 Carter told swissinfo that the accord could help boost the United States-backed road map, but added that the US must rein in its perceived pro-Israeli bias. The unofficial peace plan is backed by a number of Israeli and Palestinian personalities, and the Swiss government has offered financial and logistical support to the initiative. But the…

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Swiss Politics

Cabinet vote challenges status quo

This content was published on Nov 21, 2003 Political analyst Hans Hirter told swissinfo he expected some changes but did not think they would necessarily signal the end of consensus politics. Since October’s parliamentary elections, speculation has been rife about what will happen when parliament chooses the seven-strong cabinet in December. Attention has focused particularly on the fate of the two centre-right parties…

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Swiss Politics

Swiss expert fears Iran’s nuclear ambitions

This content was published on Nov 20, 2003 As the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meets in Vienna to decide the matter, Christoph Wirz says Iran’s denials are simply not credible. The nuclear specialist works at the Spiez Laboratory, the Swiss government’s nuclear, biological and chemical defence establishment. Writing in the “Allgemeine Schweizerische Militärzeitschrift”, a Swiss military journal, Wirz questions why an oil…

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Swiss Politics

Commission recommends tightening asylum law

This content was published on Nov 17, 2003 Monday’s recommendation by a parliamentary commission is part of a revision of the Swiss asylum law. Charles-Albert Antille, head of the House of Representatives’ commission, said the move was designed to send a signal to uncooperative countries. He added that cuts would only be made to development aid funding and would not apply in situations…

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Swiss Politics

Run-off elections confirm polarisation of politics

This content was published on Nov 9, 2003 Both the centre-left Social Democratic Party and the rightwing Swiss People’s Party made gains in the votes, which took place in cantons Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Schwyz and Vaud. The centre-right Radical Party lost three seats in the elections – two to the Social Democrats in Neuchâtel and Fribourg, and one to the People’s Party in Schwyz.…

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Swiss Politics

Blocher says he’s no rabble-rouser

This content was published on Nov 9, 2003 The ministerial candidate told swissinfo that, if elected, he would continue to lobby for less state intervention in Switzerland. Blocher is bidding for a seat in the seven-member Swiss cabinet, following the rightwing People’s Party’s success in last month’s parliamentary elections in which they gained 26.6 per cent of the popular vote. As well as…

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Swiss Politics

New date set for launch of Geneva peace plan

This content was published on Nov 8, 2003 The launch of the Geneva Accord had been postponed to allow time for the document to be distributed to Israeli and Palestinian homes. The Swiss foreign ministry said on Friday the negotiators would meet in the Swiss city of Geneva for the launch ceremony. The accord was signed by a former Israeli cabinet minister, Yossi…

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