Swiss Politics

Conflicting Sri Lankan sides meet in Switzerland

This content was published on Sep 9, 2003 It was the first time the two sides had met since peace talks stalled in April. The Tamil Tiger rebels have been fighting for a separate state in the Tamil-dominated north-east of the island for nearly two decades. Around 65,000 people have been killed in the conflict. Representatives of both sides were part of a…

Swiss Politics

Gimmicks out to grab voter attention

This content was published on Sep 9, 2003 With less than six weeks to go before voters go to the polls, experts say Swiss politicians are becoming increasingly media savvy in running their campaigns. “The campaigns have become [media] events,” admits the Social Democrats’ Jean-Philippe Jeannerat, “but they would be nothing without content.” Otfried Jarren, professor in media studies at Zurich University, says…

Swiss Politics

Swiss find Italian support for EU accords

This content was published on Sep 8, 2003 The Italian foreign minister, Franco Frattini, told his Swiss counterpart, Micheline Calmy-Rey, that the accords were likely to be discussed at an upcoming EU ministerial conference. Frattini said the Italian government – which currently holds the rotating EU presidency – was in favour of speeding up negotiations with Switzerland. Calmy-Rey was in Rome on the…

Swiss Politics

Rightwing says EU is key election issue

This content was published on Sep 8, 2003 But political analysts believe the People’s Party is simply exploiting rival parties’ inconsistency on EU membership to win seats. “The general elections are European elections,” Ueli Maurer, president of the People’s Party, said on Monday. Swiss voters overwhelmingly turned down an initiative in March 2001, which called for immediate talks on membership to the EU.…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland enters second year as UN member

This content was published on Sep 7, 2003 swissinfo spoke to the Swiss ambassador to the UN, Jenö Staehelin, about Switzerland’s first year of membership. Swiss voters approved joining the UN in 2002 after a hard fought campaign, with opponents arguing that membership would threaten Switzerland’s neutrality. Staehelin gives his views on the issue of Swiss neutrality, as well as the organisation’s involvement…

Swiss Politics

Rightwing holds lead in election countdown

This content was published on Sep 6, 2003 A sizeable minority of the electorate – 30 per cent – would like to see a redistribution of the cabinet seats in favour of the People’s Party. The results of the latest poll, carried out by the Bern-based GfS research institute, give the People’s Party a 26 per cent share of the vote – the…

Swiss Politics

Swiss press for conclusion of EU accords

This content was published on Sep 4, 2003 Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Austria’s foreign minister, told her Swiss counterpart, Micheline Calmy-Rey, that Vienna was in favour of the accords being treated as one package rather than separately. The two ministers met in the Austrian capital on Thursday, the first stop of a five-day European tour by the Swiss foreign minister. Switzerland is pressing European Union…

Swiss Politics

Cantons threaten referendum over budget cuts

This content was published on Sep 4, 2003 Some of them are threatening to call a cantonal referendum – a democratic instrument that has existed since 1874 but never been used – to stop it becoming law. As part of the 2001 fiscal package, which was approved by parliament in June, cantons stand to lose over SFr500 million in revenue under Switzerland’s complicated…

Swiss Politics

EU tops agenda in Couchepin’s Portugal visit

This content was published on Sep 2, 2003 Sampaio told Couchepin he could count on Portugal’s support during the second round of negotiations on bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU. Switzerland hopes to clinch a second set of bilateral deals with the EU by the end of next year. Relations between Switzerland and Portugal are said to be good. Bern came to…

Swiss Politics

Disabled get new voice in Basel

This content was published on Sep 1, 2003 Martin Haug says his role is to advise the disabled of their rights, inform the public and hopefully serve as a model for the rest of the country. One of his jobs is to work with the city authorities to ensure public buildings across Basel offer better access to the disabled. Three months ago the…

Swiss Politics

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Conflicting Sri Lankan sides meet in Switzerland

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Gimmicks out to grab voter attention

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Swiss find Italian support for EU accords

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Rightwing says EU is key election issue

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Switzerland enters second year as UN member

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Rightwing holds lead in election countdown

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Swiss press for conclusion of EU accords

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Cantons threaten referendum over budget cuts

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EU tops agenda in Couchepin’s Portugal visit

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Disabled get new voice in Basel

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