Swiss Politics

Macedonian ambassador recalled

This content was published on Feb 11, 2002 Last month, Bern issued Skopje with a deadline of February 18 to withdraw Ambassador Alajdin Demiri after he had been found drunk behind the wheel on several occasions. “We don’t have any information yet about the new ambassador,” said a foreign ministry spokeswoman, Daniela Stoffel. Switzerland has asked on several occasions for diplomats to be…

Swiss Politics

Majority of cantons in favour of UN membership

This content was published on Feb 10, 2002 The survey, commissioned by two Swiss newspapers, the “SonntagsBlick” and “dimanche.ch”, has shown that twelve cantons are in favour of UN membership, five are against it and six cantons remain undecided. The poll has suggested that six cantons, which were still undecided in November last year, would now vote in favour of membership. Two of…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland offers to mediate in Madagascar

This content was published on Feb 9, 2002 The Indian Ocean island’s capital, Antananarivo, has been paralysed by a general strike called by the opposition candidate, Marc Ravalomanana, who is contesting the validity of President Didier Ratsiraka’s election victory last December. Dominik Langenbacher, chargé d’affaires at the Swiss Embassy in Antananarivo, said diplomats were attempting to broker a meeting between the president and…

Swiss Politics

Constitutional crisis deepens in Liechtenstein

This content was published on Feb 7, 2002 His warning comes after the parliament of the tiny state said it would consider reforming the constitution in an effort to find a solution to the crisis. However, Liechtenstein’s head of state has so far refused to accept a compromise. In his speech at the opening of the latest parliamentary session, the prince even went…

Swiss Politics

Swiss delegation arrives in London

This content was published on Feb 7, 2002 The taxation of interest income will be one of the main issues up for discussion between the 18 Swiss parliamentarians and their British counterparts in the capital London. Taxation of interest income forms part of the new bilateral negotiations, which are expected to get underway later this year. On Monday, Percy Westerlund, director general of…

Swiss Politics

WEF: Swiss beckon it to Davos

This content was published on Feb 5, 2002 The Swiss government hopes this year’s decision to decamp to New York will not turn into a habit. It was the first time in 31 years that the summit was held outside Switzerland. “Switzerland will be delighted to host next year’s annual gathering, back in Switzerland once again, in the Alps, in Davos,” the Swiss…

Swiss Politics

Bilateral talks reach stalemate

This content was published on Feb 4, 2002 Following a meeting between senior officials from the Swiss government and the EU on Monday, both sides said it was up to the other to ensure that progress can be made. The meeting came less than a week after the Swiss government gave the green light for negotiations on ten key issues to proceed. “The…

Swiss Politics

Iraq set to reopen Bern embassy

This content was published on Feb 3, 2002 INA reported on Sunday that a cabinet meeting chaired by President Saddam Hussein gave the go-ahead to the foreign ministry’s request to restart the country’s diplomatic operations in the Swiss capital. Iraq shut down the embassy shortly before the beginning of the Gulf War, citing financial and administrative reasons, without giving further details. Baghdad said…

Swiss Politics

Parliamentarian Forum all talk

This content was published on Feb 3, 2002 The Parliamentarian’s Forum took place alongside the Social summit in Porto Alegre, the alternative conference to the World Economic Forum that is taking place in New York City. Switzerland sent one of the biggest European delegations of parliamentarians to the meeting, with five members of the House of Representatives joining several hundred of their counterparts…

Swiss Politics

Landmark Northern Irish visit to Zurich

This content was published on Feb 1, 2002 The visit came as part of a series of fact-finding missions to European cities by the assembly’s Committee for Regional Development, which represents all sides of Northern Ireland’s complex political spectrum. Social Democrat and Labour Party assembly member, Alban Maginness, told swissinfo that Zurich, which is similar in size to the greater Belfast conurbation, is…

Swiss Politics

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Swiss Politics

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Macedonian ambassador recalled

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Majority of cantons in favour of UN membership

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Switzerland offers to mediate in Madagascar

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Constitutional crisis deepens in Liechtenstein

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Swiss delegation arrives in London

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WEF: Swiss beckon it to Davos

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Bilateral talks reach stalemate

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Iraq set to reopen Bern embassy

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Parliamentarian Forum all talk

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Landmark Northern Irish visit to Zurich

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