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Swiss Politics

Tough negotiations ahead at Earth Summit

This content was published on Aug 26, 2002 The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, says he is confident the summit will not end in failure. “We have to be optimistic, even if there remain great problems to be solved,” Deiss told swissinfo, ” because it wouldn’t be fair to go to Johannesburg with a pessimistic frame of mind.” The United Nations World Summit…

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Switzerland: a model for Europe?

This content was published on Aug 22, 2002 Fifty years ago, the EU founders Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman considered the idea of a federal state similiar to Switzerland. And the idea has once again gained prominence as Brussels considers the future of the EU. Last December saw the creation of the Convention on the future of Europe, designed to pave the way…

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What keeps Switzerland together?

This content was published on Aug 22, 2002 With so many differences Switzerland would seem to have little chance of holding together. But Switzerland is united as today as it has ever been. One reason for this cohesion, says Gregory Fossedal, title and author of Direct Democracy, is the system of direct democracy. It gives every Swiss citizen the right to call for…

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Lake Geneva to host G-8 leaders in 2003

This content was published on Aug 3, 2002 The French president, Jacques Chirac, has chosen Evian-les-Bains as the host town for next year’s G-8 summit. Evian, which is famous for its health spas and bottled water, is nestled on the French side of Lake Geneva. However, Switzerland is likely to become heavily involved in the summit – not only because of its geographic…

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Swiss Politics

Bern urges end to Sudan fighting

This content was published on Aug 1, 2002 The Swiss foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that it was alarmed by the escalation of violence and the large number of civilian casualties. The rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLA) on Tuesday accused government troops of killing 1,000 civilians in a new offensive in the south of the country. Swiss appeal Bern…

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Swiss take fresh look at air show safety

This content was published on Jul 29, 2002 Swiss aviation authorities are to “carefully” study security rules in order to prevent a crash like that which occurred at an air show on the outskirts of the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, said Christophe Keckeis, deputy commander of the Swiss Air Force. He said checks would be made to see whether such a catastrophe…

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Swiss offer to help Ukrainian crash victims

This content was published on Jul 28, 2002 Ukraine welcomed the offer of assistance, but said there was no need at present to take up Switzerland’s offer of hospital places for many of the badly burnt victims of the disaster. The Swiss president, Kaspar Villiger, has also sent the Ukrainian president, Leonid Kuchma, a letter expressing his and the Swiss people’s “deep sympathy”…

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Swiss Politics

Switzerland approved as UN member by Security Council

This content was published on Jul 25, 2002 Wednesday’s decision paves the way for the General Assembly to complete the process and vote on the issue on September 10. Switzerland formally applied for membership last week following a nationwide vote in March in favour of joining the world body. “I wish to extend my congratulations to the Swiss Confederation on this historic occasion,”…

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Swiss seek to deter African asylum seekers

This content was published on Jul 24, 2002 In the past six months, the number of African asylum seekers has increased by 1,400 to reach 16,500. However, Bern has no repatriation agreements with African nations which in many cases either cannot or do not want to take back their citizens. One reason why cooperation with African states is problematic is because registers destroyed…

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Intense diplomatic ballet in Geneva

This content was published on Jul 21, 2002 The Middle East crisis seems to be the focus of talks underway in the Geneva area. The Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak made a 24-hour visit, meeting two Gulf heads of state holidaying in the region on Friday. Mubarak spoke first with the Emirati president, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan near Annemasse, just over the…

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