Swiss Politics

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…

Swiss Politics

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…

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…

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…

Swiss Politics

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…

Swiss Politics

Bigger EU prompts second thoughts in Switzerland

This content was published on Apr 15, 2004 Switzerland submitted an application to join the Union 12 years ago, but has never officially pursued it. A recent conference of cantonal governments demanded a clearer European policy at the federal level, with almost half of the 26 cantons saying they were in favour of the country joining the EU. This year’s Swiss president, Joseph…

Swiss Politics

Swiss to build mountain in Japan

This content was published on Apr 3, 2004 But opinion is divided about whether the country should be spending millions of francs of public money on its presence at the global event. Visitors to the Swiss pavilion at Expo 2005 – the first global cultural event of the 21st century – will be invited to walk around inside the mountain and take in…

Swiss Politics

Bilateral route unlikely to survive EU enlargement

This content was published on Apr 2, 2004 But experts say that after “Bilaterals II” Switzerland will struggle to advance its interests with a Union preoccupied with integrating ten new members after May 1. The Swiss cabinet on Thursday signalled that a deal was not far off, after nearly three years of difficult negotiations on agreements ranging from savings taxation to judicial assistance.…

Swiss Politics

Cabinet newcomers steer clear of controversy

This content was published on Apr 2, 2004 Their first three months in office have been characterised by a surprising lack of confrontation, but the general view is that battle has yet to be joined. It was expected that sparks would fly in the new-look cabinet, elected by parliament on December 10 last year. In a political upset, instead of two representatives from…

Swiss Politics

Diplomat puts positive spin on Bürgenstock talks

This content was published on Apr 1, 2004 As five days of intense negotiations in Switzerland drew to an end, swissinfo asked Pfirter for his assessment of how the talks had gone. Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders left the Bürgenstock resort near Lake Lucerne without having reached an agreement on the UN’s 9,000-page plan. But Pfirter believes there is still time to iron…

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Schröder promises backing for Swiss bilaterals

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Swiss call for open weapons debate at UN

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Government slams age discrimination in politics

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Cracks emerge in Switzerland’s biggest party

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Schweiger looks to put Radicals back on track

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Bigger EU prompts second thoughts in Switzerland

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Swiss to build mountain in Japan

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Bilateral route unlikely to survive EU enlargement

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Cabinet newcomers steer clear of controversy

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Diplomat puts positive spin on Bürgenstock talks

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