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Swiss Politics

Wafer-thin majority approves Swiss army reforms

This content was published on Jun 10, 2001 The final outcome was in doubt until the very last of Switzerland’s 26 cantons -the populous regions of Bern, Zurich and Vaud – announced their results. Turnout was 41 per cent. Voters were deciding on two proposals, which will allow Swiss soldiers to be fully armed when taking part in international peacekeeping missions, and permit…

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Swiss Politics

Geneva to share key information summit

This content was published on Jun 8, 2001 The ITU said in a press release it had decided to stage the second phase of the summit in Tunisia. The head of the organisation, Yoshio Utsumi, reportedly said he wished to undertake part of the conference in the developing world. The Swiss press reported that Tunisia’s allegedly dubious human rights record served to undermine…

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Swiss Politics

Battle over army’s role unites left and right

This content was published on Jun 8, 2001 Latest opinion polls indicate that the gap between the proposals’ supporters and opponents is narrowing, but those advocating a “yes” vote remain in the majority. Although neither proposal would be controversial in most other European countries, in Switzerland they have come in for fierce opposition from both left- and right-wing circles. In neutral Switzerland the…

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Swiss Politics

Emmen again under the spotlight in nationality vote

This content was published on Jun 8, 2001 The people of Emmen are voting on whether to give 22 long-term foreign residents Swiss nationality. The issue of nationality is decided at community level right across Switzerland, but Emmen is one of the few towns to put it to a secret ballot. In most places applications for Swiss citizenship are decided by an elected…

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Swiss Politics

Military vote seen as test for UN membership decision

This content was published on Jun 8, 2001 Observers have said that a “no” vote in Sunday’s referendum could set back the chances of Switzerland joining the United Nations – an issue due to come to the vote next year. Although the Swiss government’s policy goals include membership of the UN and European Union, Swiss voters have traditionally shown little enthusiasm for joining…

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Swiss Politics

Deiss wins Belgian backing for closer Swiss-EU ties

This content was published on Jun 7, 2001 During his one-day trip to Brussels on Thursday, Deiss also extracted a commitment from Michel that Belgium would ratify by November a package of bilateral accords agreed between Switzerland and the EU in 1999. Belgium is one of six EU member states that have yet to ratify a treaty on the free movement of people,…

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Swiss Politics

Immigrants occupy church in bid to secure residency

This content was published on Jun 6, 2001 The 100-strong collective includes immigrants from Africa, South America, the Balkans and the European Union. Fribourg’s justice director, Claude Grandjean, and a police official visited the immigrants on Tuesday evening and said the authorities would not take steps to evict them. Grandjean said that because the sit-in was taking place with the consent of the…

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Swiss Politics

Swiss diplomat shot in Ethiopia arrives back in Switzerland

This content was published on Jun 2, 2001 The Federal Office for Foreign Affairs confirmed she was in a stable condition and had been transfered to a Swiss hospital. Siegrist was shot twice in the head by Belay Kabede, a maintenance worker whose contract with the Swiss embassy in the capital, Addis Abeba, was terminated four months before it was due to expire…

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Swiss Politics

Refugee officials organise art exhibition

This content was published on Jun 1, 2001 It features sculptures by Swiss artist Schang Hutter which evoke such themes as war, violence and the distress faced by people forced to flee to another country. One is entitled “Scene on the Field of Battle” and another is “Monument to the Silent Majority”. The exhibition has been timed to mark the 50th anniversary of…

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Swiss Politics

Switzerland awaits signal from EU on further treaties

This content was published on Jun 1, 2001 Speaking after a meeting in Bern between EU and Swiss officials, Ambühl said the EU wanted to press ahead with negotiations on certain key issues, while Switzerland preferred to wait to discuss a fuller range of topics. The head of the Swiss integration office said the EU delegation, led by Percy Westerlund, wanted to begin…

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