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Swiss Politics

Swiss keep watch over fragile peace

This content was published on May 19, 2003 Sandwiched between more than 1.5 million troops, their mission is a peculiar mix of diplomacy, continuity and ritual. “In the 1950s, Switzerland’s role was far more hands-on,” Major-General Adrien Evéquoz, who commands the Swiss Observer Mission, told swissinfo. “Our predecessors used to carry out inspections of the number of troops and weapons that were entering…

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Cuts to Swiss army voted through

This content was published on May 18, 2003 The plans foresee the reduction in size of the armed forces by a third and the introduction of more professional training programmes. Three-quarters of voters backed the army reforms, while 80 per cent came out in favour of overhauling the civil protection system. “By accepting the reforms the Swiss people have authorised two important elements…

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Voting goes government’s way

This content was published on May 18, 2003 Only the two government-backed reforms – cutting back the army and civil defence system – were approved in the biggest voting round for 130 years. The cabinet had recommended that voters throw out all seven people’s initiatives, and approve only the two referenda – on reform of the army and civil protection. The Swiss president,…

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Swiss reject improved rights for disabled

This content was published on May 18, 2003 The high cost of improving access is thought to have persuaded voters to reject the initiative. More than 62 per cent of voters followed the government’s recommendations and voted against the proposal. The vote had been expected to be a close one, with some analysts predicting that the financial argument could lose out to the…

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Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey calls for end to Korean stand-off

This content was published on May 18, 2003 Calmy-Rey will become the first foreign government official on Tuesday to cross the demarcation line separating North and South Korea. “Switzerland insists on the negotiated settlement of all issues related to the Korean Peninsula,” said Calmy-Rey. Swiss officials said the foreign minister made the comments during talks with her North Korean counterpart, Paek Nam Sun,…

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EU asks Switzerland to expand labour accord

This content was published on May 14, 2003 The country’s 26 cantons and Swiss foreign policy committees are set to begin debating the issue, prior to its referral to parliament. Chris Patten, the EU Commissioner for External Relations, appealed to Switzerland to continue its support of the EU’s enlargement. In a letter to the Swiss foreign minister, Micheline Calmy-Rey, Patten also called on…

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Coalition welcomes Swiss aid efforts in Iraq

This content was published on May 12, 2003 The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) said the British and Americans in Baghdad had offered “every assistance”. The SDC’s humanitarian aid expert, Toni Frisch, went to Iraq on a fact-finding mission for the Swiss government shortly after the liaison bureau opened on May 5. Frisch told swissinfo that he had met the coalition…

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Switzerland marks 40 years of European union

This content was published on May 6, 2003 Indeed the body which promotes democracy and the rule of law, as well as an understanding of Europe’s cultural identity, is frequently confused with the European Union. On May 6 Switzerland celebrated 40 years as a member of the Strasbourg-based organisation. “Bold step” Speaking on the anniversary, Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer said…

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Swiss reopen liaison office in Baghdad

This content was published on May 5, 2003 The joint initiative by the foreign ministry and the Swiss Development Agency (SDC) will focus initially on helping to repair the country’s battered infrastructure. SDC spokesman, Jean-Philippe Jutzi, told swissinfo that the two parties felt the time was right to reopen the office after agreeing that the security situation in Baghdad had improved. Jutzi said…

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Voters stand up to be counted

This content was published on May 5, 2003 An estimated 6,000 locals turned up to raise their hands at the “Landsgemeinde” – the annual public voting forum, which dates back to 1387. They gathered around a large wooden stage in the town of Glarus where individuals from all walks of life – some of them dressed in colourful costumes – argued for acceptance…

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