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Swiss Politics

Right wing holds lead in the polls

This content was published on May 3, 2003 With 25.3 per cent, the People’s Party is still slightly ahead of the centre-left Social Democrats. Compared with the previous poll conducted in March, the popularity of the Social Democrats remains unchanged at 24.2 per cent. The fourth poll, which was conducted by the Bern-based GfS institute, showed that the most Swiss believe the People’s…

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Swiss Politics

Nations impose deadline for “blood diamond” pact

This content was published on Apr 30, 2003 Switzerland, along with around 70 other countries, agreed to a final extension to the deal at a meeting in South Africa. Countries that fail to implement the new certification system for uncut diamonds will be excluded from international trade. Switzerland was one of 56 countries that signed up to the Kimberley Process in Interlaken last…

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Candidate with Swiss roots leads Argentina poll

This content was published on Apr 25, 2003 Néstor Kirchner’s family left Interlaken in the late 19th century and arrived in Buenos Aires in 1884. The election race is expected to be close and decided in a run-off on May 18. Latest polls show the top candidates are left-leaning Kirchner, free market economist Ricardo Lopez, and former president, Carlos Menem. If Kirchner were…

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Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey re-ignites EU debate

This content was published on Apr 24, 2003 Calmy-Rey says the cabinet should decide whether to open talks during the next four years of parliament. “Bilateral agreements are one way of achieving closer integration, and at the moment they serve our purpose,” she said. “We must let them run their course and then, during the next parliament, the government has to decide whether…

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Swiss Politics

Demining experts start work in Iraq

This content was published on Apr 23, 2003 The Geneva-based organisation was asked by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to carry out the work to speed up the delivery of much-needed supplies. “We open the roads, we make sure that the warehouses are safe and that offices can be used and that the civilian population can get the assistance they need…

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Swiss Politics

Renowned geologist and Nepal expert Hagen dies

This content was published on Apr 22, 2003 Hagen was regarded as a pioneer in the field of development aid, undertaking missions to the Himalayas, eastern Africa and South America in a career spanning 60 years. As part of the first Swiss mission to Nepal in 1950 – and one of the first foreigners to enter the country – Hagen was instrumental in…

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Swiss Politics

Oiling the wheels of government

This content was published on Apr 20, 2003 Although a French creation, founded in 1803 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the chancellery is nevertheless very Swiss in character. Agenda setting Entitled “Chalet Fédéral”, the exhibition gives an insight into the many behind-the-scenes duties of the chancellery. Among other things it is responsible for organising the weekly meetings of the cabinet by setting the agenda and…

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Swiss Politics

Swiss firms gear up for Iraq contracts

This content was published on Apr 14, 2003 But they are remaining tight-lipped about the contracts they hope to secure while the war is still in progress. During the years of the United Nations Oil for Food programme, which began in December 1996, Swiss firms won contracts worth some $800 million (SFr1.1 billion). “It’s far too early,” a spokeswoman for the State Secretariat…

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Swiss Politics

Water transporters head for Iraq

This content was published on Apr 14, 2003 The donation is in response to an urgent appeal to national Red Cross agencies by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for help in delivering clean water to Iraqis. The ICRC said on Sunday that a lack of water and power was crippling Baghdad hospitals, which were struggling to treat the sick and…

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Landmine legacy threatens rebuilding of Iraq

This content was published on Apr 13, 2003 According to Geneva’s International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, this deadly legacy of two decades of conflict could slow the reconstruction of the shattered country. “Often, the clearance of mines is a precursor to delivery of humanitarian aid and then any reconstruction and development in the medium or longer term,” said Ian Mansfield, the operations director…

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