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Swiss Politics

Patience is the key for Albania

This content was published on May 20, 2002 Albania was the last of Europe’s former communist countries to turn towards democracy and a free market economy. For 50 years it remained completely closed to the outside world, maintaining diplomatic ties only with China. Their totalitarian leader, Enver Hoxha, told the Albanian people that they were living in the world’s only paradise. Religion was…

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Illegal immigrants demand regularisation

This content was published on May 18, 2002 All European organisations believe that legal recognition of undocumented foreigners is the solution to improving their situation, said Hannes Reiser of the Swiss Movement for Illegal Immigrants (SMII). Representatives from 11 European nations are meeting in the Swiss capital this weekend to discuss how to improve the lot of foreigners in legal limbo. “This meeting…

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Swiss Politics

Swiss keep tabs on “holidaying” foreign troops

This content was published on May 14, 2002 British Royal Marines have been coming to the Lauterbrunnen Valley in the Bernese Oberland – ostensibly as tourists – since the late 1970s to conduct high-altitude exercises, albeit out of uniform and unarmed. They have been doing so apparently without the knowledge of the Swiss defence minister and the army chief of staff. Appearing before…

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Swiss Politics

Pro-neutrality supporters say no to closer EU cooperation

This content was published on May 11, 2002 At an assembly meeting of the Campaign for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland (CINS) in the Swiss capital, Bern, on Saturday, around 1000 members unanimously approved a resolution calling on the Swiss government not to sign up to the Schengen agreement. The accord, which has been signed by a majority of EU member states, abolishes…

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Swiss Politics

Fragile hope for Myanmar after Suu Kyi release

This content was published on May 8, 2002 Suu Kyi’s release on Monday after 19 months of house arrest is being seen as a definite sign that one of the world’s most repressive regimes is slowly loosening its grip. However, Glen Hill, coordinator of Swissaid projects in Myanmar, told swissinfo that the move was not tantamount to a shift towards democracy. “The release…

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Swiss Politics

Voters hail Chirac victory

This content was published on May 5, 2002 “Of course, I’m extremely pleased with the result,” said Thérèse Espinet, the representative for Chirac’s Rally for the Republic Party (RPR) in Switzerland. “Around midday on Sunday, there was a queue of people 50 metres long in front of the [French] consulate in Geneva waiting to vote.” Not only did Chirac win 89.6 per cent…

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Swiss Politics

Swiss sign Europe-wide ban on death penalty

This content was published on May 3, 2002 The Council of Europe presented the 13th protocol of European Convention on Human Rights in Vilnius, Lithuania. It is the first international treaty to abolish capital punishment entirely. The Swiss foreign ministry said the aim was “a Europe without capital punishment”. Peacetime executions are already outlawed by the Convention’s sixth protocol, which went into effect…

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Swiss Politics

Swiss add some colour to Washington politics

This content was published on May 2, 2002 Almost 200 sculptures of the animals – long-standing symbols of the United States’ Republican and Democratic parties – have been painted by dozens of artists, from professionals to school children. The brainchild of Washington DC mayor Anthony Williams, the “Party Animals” project aims to use the decorated animals – which are about 1.5 metres in…

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Swiss Politics

Israeli intransigence leaves UN red-faced

This content was published on May 2, 2002 The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, decided on Wednesday to abandon efforts to send a fact-finding mission into the Jenin refugee camp to investigate an alleged Israeli massacre. Given Israel’s opposition to the probe, he said he saw no way it could carry out its investigation in the near future. The events in Israel over…

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Swiss Politics

Borer ends diplomatic career

This content was published on Apr 28, 2002 He confirmed on Saturday that he would be staying in Berlin and returning to the private sector to advise companies with interests in Switzerland, Germany and the United States. In announcing his decision, Borer had some harsh words for the Swiss foreign ministry. “This step is necessary for personal and professional reasons, including my ministry’s…

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