Swiss Politics

Swiss observer fears rigged election in Chechnya

This content was published on Aug 26, 2004 Swiss parliamentarian Andreas Gross, who is representing the Council of Europe in Chechnya, says only the Kremlin’s candidate has a realistic chance of winning. Gross has made regular visits to the troubled southern Russian republic over the past few years on behalf of the Council of Europe. He will be in Chechnya this weekend, leading…

Swiss Politics

Foreign ministry reforms filter through

This content was published on Aug 25, 2004 For the second year in a row, representatives of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) have attended the annual ambassadors’ conference in Bern. Until now, development aid and foreign representation have been two very separate divisions within the ministry. But last year, Calmy-Rey said she wanted to break down the walls between the…

Swiss Politics

ICRC launches major airlift to Sudan

This content was published on Aug 24, 2004 The Geneva-based organisation said on Tuesday its aim was to help the thousands of people who urgently need humanitarian aid. “We need to send material that is desperately required to reinforce our work in the field,” said ICRC spokesman Marco Jimenez. The aid will help with food, health and water needs in the area, which…

Swiss Politics

Blocher toes government line on citizenship vote

This content was published on Aug 23, 2004 But Blocher, who is known to be against the proposals, said he would not personally be campaigning for a “yes” vote in a nationwide ballot on September 26. Blocher – a member of the rightwing Swiss People’s Party – refused on Monday to divulge his personal opinion about the citizenship votes. But he said he…

Swiss Politics

Swiss see little to fear from Schengen

This content was published on Aug 20, 2004 But the rightwing Swiss People’s Party voted overwhelmingly on Saturday to fight plans to join both treaties. The GfS Bern polling and research institute, which was commissioned by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, found that if a vote were held now, two-thirds of voters would support Switzerland’s move to join Schengen and Dublin. A treaty to…

Swiss Politics

Poll predicts good result for foreigners and mothers

This content was published on Aug 20, 2004 An initial poll commissioned by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation shows that rightwing opponents are failing to convince the public. The GfS Bern polling and research institute said a majority of voters appeared to be in favour of making it easier for second and third generation foreigners to acquire Swiss citizenship. Some 75 per cent of…

Swiss Politics

Government defends post office closures

This content was published on Aug 17, 2004 It said the costs of maintaining the current postal network were too high, but Communications Minister Moritz Leuenberger guaranteed to ensure a decent level of service. The people’s initiative, which is due to go to a nationwide vote on September 26, has been put forward by an alliance made up of a trade union, a…

Swiss Politics

Swiss youth act to make the world a better place

This content was published on Aug 11, 2004 Details of the national project, which is expected to involve more than 10,000 youngsters, were revealed ahead of the United Nations International Youth Day on Thursday. The Swiss Council of Youth Associations said the 72-hour initiative would run from September 15 to 18, 2005, and would focus on small-scale projects to benefit communities across the…

Swiss Politics

Diplomat heads delicate Swiss mission in Tehran

This content was published on Aug 10, 2004 In his first interview since taking up office in July, Philippe Welti told swissinfo about the challenge of leading one of Switzerland’s most high-profile diplomatic missions. Welti officially presented his credentials to the Iranian president, Mohammad Khatami, at a ceremony in Tehran on August 2. The start of his tenure comes at a sensitive time…

Swiss Politics

Debate heats up over Swiss army system

This content was published on Aug 5, 2004 Schmid broke a taboo by suggesting that the militia system could one day be scrapped. He said that budgetary pressures meant that further reforms to the army could not be ruled out. This is a view shared by the centre-left Social Democrat parliamentarian, Barbara Haering, who told swissinfo that debate over the future of the…

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Swiss observer fears rigged election in Chechnya

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Foreign ministry reforms filter through

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ICRC launches major airlift to Sudan

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Blocher toes government line on citizenship vote

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Swiss see little to fear from Schengen

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Poll predicts good result for foreigners and mothers

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Government defends post office closures

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Swiss youth act to make the world a better place

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Diplomat heads delicate Swiss mission in Tehran

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Debate heats up over Swiss army system

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