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Swiss Politics

Parliament session overshadowed by attacks in the US

This content was published on Sep 17, 2001 The speakers of the House of Representatives and the Senate expressed their sorrow for the victims of last Tuesday’s attacks in the US. They said the terrorist acts were a serious blow to fundamental values of freedom, security and humanity. In their opening statements on Monday, the speakers called for increased efforts to combat terrorism…

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Swisscoy soldiers in Kosovo to be armed from October

This content was published on Sep 13, 2001 The number of Swisscoy troops stationed in the region will also increase from 160 to 220. In addition, the ministry is sending five tanks and a Super Puma helicopter to assist Swiss soldiers in Kosovo. The government has also announced that the Swiss mission in Kosovo will be extended beyond its existing mandate, which runs…

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Groups urge parliament to use gold sale for good causes

This content was published on Sep 10, 2001 The proposal for the “solidarity foundation”, passed by the Senate in June and scheduled for another round of debate in parliament this month, was a “convincing compromise”, speakers of the Forum of Aid Organisations for the Solidarity Foundation agreed at a media conference in Bern. “After years of haggling, the proposal represents an agreement that…

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Swiss delegation ends ten-day visit to Iran

This content was published on Sep 9, 2001 The Swiss delegation spent most of its ten-day visit in Tehran, but also visited two towns outside the Iranian capital. “The aim of our visit was to further enhance dialogue with Iranians,” said Anne-Marie Holenstein, who led the delegation in Iran. “Most of the delegation members soon realised how their opinions [of the country] were…

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Swiss Politics

More Swiss troops may be sent to Kosovo

This content was published on Sep 9, 2001 The statement was made in response to an article about Swiss personnel serving in Kosovo which appeared in the German-speaking newspaper, “SonntagsBlick”. But Oswald Sigg, spokesman for the defence ministry, said no decision on an increase in numbers would be made before a meeting of the cabinet and then the Swiss parliament later in the…

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Swiss Politics

Leuenberger rejects criticism of air traffic deal with Germany

This content was published on Sep 9, 2001 In an interview with the Swiss newspaper, “dimanche.ch”, Leuenberger said the airport and airlines using Kloten would have suffered in the long run had he failed to reach an agreement with his German counterpart, Kurt Bodewig, when the two ministers met for talks last week. “If the negotiations had failed,” Leuenberger told the paper, “Germany…

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Toblerones: a monument to Swiss wartime defences

This content was published on Sep 9, 2001 The toblerones in question are anti-tank defences built by the Swiss to slow up any possible invasion by the Nazis during the Second World War. These 16-tonne concrete obstacles sprouted like giant regimented mushrooms throughout Switzerland 60 years ago, but the line that covers the 10 kilometres from Bassins, in the Jura mountains, to the…

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Swiss Politics

Couchepin reiterates Swiss government’s desire to join EU

This content was published on Sep 8, 2001 “Given our geographical position,” Couchepin writes in the paper, “and our common values of democracy and peace, as well as our economic interests, Switzerland and the European Union cannot ignore one another.” “In fact, the relationship should be quite the opposite,” the minister adds. “They must get closer together. Joining the EU remains a desirable…

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Davos learns lessons from World Economic Forum summit

This content was published on Sep 6, 2001 A report commissioned by the cantonal authorities recommends that anti-globalisation groups should be allowed more involvement, and that police should exercise more restraint in curbing protests. The authors of the report, published on Thursday in the cantonal capital, Chur, said protests were inevitable at WEF meetings, given that the organisation had chosen “globalisation” as its…

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Switzerland hopeful that racism conference can be salvaged

This content was published on Sep 4, 2001 Peter Maurer, deputy head of the Swiss delegation, said he was saddened that the US and Israel had withdrawn in protest at a draft declaration, which described Israel’s treatment of Palestinians as racist. “We are really sorry that they chose to walk out of the conference,” said Maurer. “We think they would have had an…

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