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Swiss Politics

Political leaders come face to face in Davos

This content was published on Jan 23, 2003 For Swiss politicians and business leaders the forum is primarily an opportunity for networking on a large scale. More than 2,000 representatives of business, politics, non-governmental organisations and the media from 100 countries are expected to attend. Representing the Swiss government will be the finance minister, Kaspar Villiger, the economics minister, Joseph Deiss, the interior…

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WEF summit opens amid mounting global concerns

This content was published on Jan 22, 2003 But this year there are serious doubts about whether the political and business leaders present have it in their power to make a difference. “One could say that there are two groups [of people] holding illusions about the Davos gathering,” says Beat Kappeler, a respected Swiss media commentator. “One [group] is the CEOs there who…

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Swiss prepare for anti-globalisation forum

This content was published on Jan 21, 2003 Members of the Swiss parliament, government and non-governmental organisations are among the 100,000 people attending the gathering. Set up to debate other means of globalisation, which respect human rights and democracy, the WSF in now in its third year. It is billed as an alternative to the WEF annual meeting in the Swiss mountain resort…

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Swiss town holds first Internet vote

This content was published on Jan 19, 2003 The experiment was part of an ongoing drive by the government to introduce electronic voting, or e-voting, across the country. The authorites said that 44 per cent – 323 voters – cast their ballot through the Internet, and 349 (50 per cent) by post. Only 48 (six per cent) actually went to the polling station.…

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Swiss private banks take aim at government

This content was published on Jan 16, 2003 A vote could derail a crucial set of bilateral agreements currently being negotiated between Bern and Brussels. “The government knows that if it goes beyond what is acceptable for the financial sector or threatens it, there will be a referendum,” Ivan Pictet, a partner of the Geneva-based Pictet bank, told swissinfo. “Obviously it also knows…

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Military can down unauthorised planes during WEF

This content was published on Jan 15, 2003 The government on Wednesday ratified a security measure aimed at ensuring complete control of air space above the Alpine resort during the meeting. The cabinet agreed that Schmid should take the decision on whether to attack in the event of unauthorised aircraft penetrating a no-fly zone. Defence officials had announced ten days ago that Switzerland…

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Switzerland – last hope for asylum seekers

This content was published on Jan 15, 2003 Eurodac is the first European information system comparing fingerprints of asylum applicants and illegal immigrants. It is being adopted by all signatories to the Dublin convention on asylum to identify asylum seekers who have already lodged applications with an EU member state. The aim is to prevent asylum seekers from lodging applications in more than…

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Asylum numbers steady despite more applicants

This content was published on Jan 14, 2003 However, the number of asylum seekers in the country remained the same because large numbers went home. The number of asylum seekers and refugees living in Switzerland remained stable last year, mainly because of increased repatriations. Although applications for asylum increased by over 26 per cent, 17,000 asylum seekers went home, meaning that the overall…

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Sporting talk seeks to promote peace

This content was published on Jan 13, 2003 The meeting, scheduled for February in Magglingen, canton Bern, is the first of its kind and will bring together politicians, business people, scientists and sports personalities. Ogi, who is UN Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, said the meeting would look at how sport could help people and countries to work more closely…

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Government seeks to make peace promotion law

This content was published on Jan 13, 2003 Parliament is to consider the proposal this year, along with a government request for a credit of SFr240 million ($160 million) to fund efforts abroad. “I really hope this draft law will be accepted by parliament because it weighs on one of the central aims of the foreign ministry,” said Radical Lili Nabholz, president of…

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