Swiss Politics

Swiss abroad air concerns

This content was published on Aug 30, 2003 The Swiss president, Pascal Couchepin, told delegates Switzerland had to carve out more of a role for itself on the international stage. In his address, Couchepin said Switzerland could improve its image around the world – and especially among the young. “Switzerland enjoys a generally good reputation worldwide and joining the United Nations was certainly…

Expatriates focus on Switzerland’s financial role

This content was published on Aug 29, 2003 The 81st congress of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) also serves as a platform for other issues concerning Swiss expatriates. More than 500 people are expected to attend the three-day meeting, but OSA director Rudolf Wyder is disappointed the figure is not higher. “This year’s attendance won’t break any records,” he told swissinfo,…

Swiss Politics

Swiss ambassadors wrap up annual conference

This content was published on Aug 28, 2003 Switzerland’s overseas diplomats are now returning to their posts after four days of discussions in the Swiss capital, Bern. The Swiss foreign minister, Micheline Calmy-Rey, used the event to call for closer cooperation between Swiss embassies and the coordination bureaux of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Broad welcome Ulrich Lehner, head of…

Swiss Politics

Swiss abroad seek parliamentary voice

This content was published on Aug 25, 2003 The Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) said at least sixteen candidates had so far put their names forward. Twelve expatriates are to campaign for the rightwing Swiss People’s Party, while three others from the Radical Party will also fight for a place in the House of Representatives. A Swiss woman living in neighbouring France…

Swiss Politics

Swiss diplomats told to do more on world stage

This content was published on Aug 25, 2003 Calmy-Rey said Switzerland could only defend its interests if it was prepared to make its presence felt on the world stage. The foreign minister was speaking at the annual conference of Swiss ambassadors which kicked off in Bern on Monday. She added that guaranteeing the security of Switzerland was linked to combatting global poverty: “Poverty…

Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey’s diplomatic reforms cause controversy

This content was published on Aug 25, 2003 Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey wants to boost cooperation between ambassadors and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) – a move fiercely opposed by some diplomats. For the first time, 17 top SDC officials will be attending the conference in addition to 106 diplomats. Ahead of the conference, Calmy-Rey said she would like to…

Swiss Politics

Young people want Switzerland to be an island

This content was published on Aug 19, 2003 Nearly half of the young adults polled indicated they were anti-immigration and in favour of keeping Switzerland free from foreign influences. Some 20,000 young people participated in the defence ministry study. Almost half of them (44 per cent) said they would vote for a proposal to restrict the number of foreigners in Switzerland to ten…

Swiss Politics

German ambassador has Swiss interests at heart

This content was published on Aug 17, 2003 Elbe told swissinfo he did not believe the long-running dispute over Zurich airport would sour relations between the two neighbours. The two nations have been at loggerheads since the Swiss parliament rejected a controversial air transport accord in March this year. The deal is aimed at cutting by a third the number of flights approaching…

Swiss Politics

Security fears cast shadow over e-government

This content was published on Aug 15, 2003 But three-quarters of those questioned said they would not give out personal details over the Internet unless security were guaranteed. Most of the 1,000 Swiss adults interviewed by the GfS research institute – 83 per cent – said they would use the Internet for everyday administrative tasks such as registering a change of address or…

Swiss Politics

Gaza Strip incident overshadows Israeli visit

This content was published on Aug 12, 2003 Micheline Calmy-Rey said she was “dissatisfied” with Israel’s explanation as to why army fire hit the diplomat’s car in the Gaza Strip in May. The car carrying Jean-Jacques Joris, the Swiss representative to the Palestinian Authority, was fired on as it approached a checkpoint. Joris survived the attack unharmed. Calmy-Rey described the shooting as “serious”.…

Swiss Politics

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