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Swiss Politics

Ogi seen as strong contender to join Olympic Committee

This content was published on Feb 28, 2001 The Swiss Olympic Federation – of which Ogi is honorary president – confirmed on Wednesday that it had put Ogi forward as a candidate for IOC membership. Federation boss, Marco Blatter, said Ogi had a good chance of securing a seat, even though Switzerland is already over-represented, with five members on the committee. Ogi confirmed…

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Defence minister unveils major reform of Swiss army

This content was published on Feb 28, 2001 Unveiling the new defence policy, known as “Army 21”, on Tuesday, Schmid said the army would be streamlined into a single, reactive unit, removing traditional distinctions between various divisions and regiments. He said the annual defence budget would be SFr4.3 billion ($2.56 billion), despite ongoing pressure from many parliamentarians to reduce it further. Under the…

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Swiss ambassador heading for Borneo to track missing activist

This content was published on Feb 27, 2001 The Swiss ambassador to Malaysia, Rudolf Staub, is due to hold talks with officials in charge of Manser’s case in Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, in an attempt to establish the whereabouts of the Basel activist. “We are trying very intensively to find Manser,” Swiss foreign ministry spokeswoman, Daniela Stoffel, told swissinfo. “Ambassador Staub will…

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Russia allows first Swiss aid convoy to return

This content was published on Feb 25, 2001 The customs office is still waiting for the payment before releasing the final convoy of second-hand army supplies, a Swiss foreign ministry spokesman said. The payment demand goes against a deal agreed earlier this month by the Russian foreign minister, Igor Ivanov, during a meeting in Bern with his Swiss counterpart, Joseph Deiss. Once the…

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Swiss Politics

EU plays down warning to Switzerland over tax evasion

This content was published on Feb 23, 2001 Fischler’s comments, made during a visit to Bern on Friday, come after the EU’s foreign affairs commissioner, Chris Patten, hinted that a delay in opening talks on those issues could hold up the ratification of seven bilateral accords agreed between Switzerland and the EU. In a letter to the Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, Patten…

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Geneva parliament approves new museum after heated debate

This content was published on Feb 23, 2001 The project is expected to cost SFr103 million ($61 million), and over half of the funding will come from the municipality. The sum is higher than anticipated, but objections to the project were not only on financial grounds. A Christian Democrat member of the city parliament, Guy Mettan, said the new building would clash with…

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Brussels steps up pressure on Switzerland over tax evasion

This content was published on Feb 23, 2001 In what is being seen as a veiled warning to Switzerland, Patten hinted that a delay in new negotiations could hold up the ratification of seven bilateral accords agreed between Switzerland and the EU. In a letter to the Swiss foreign ministry, he wrote: “Any further delay could have a serious negative impact on the…

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Swiss Politics

EU urges talks on further accords

This content was published on Feb 22, 2001 In an open letter to the Swiss foreign ministry, EU commissioner Chris Patten said that Brussels wanted to launch talks to secure a second set of bilateral treaties. The commissioner for external relations said the two should discuss issues such as customs fraud and a halt to tax evasion. Patten’s remarks follow calls earlier this…

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Swiss Politics

More French-speaking Swiss turn away from Europe initiative

This content was published on Feb 22, 2001 According to a poll by the newspapers “Le Temps” and the “TagesAnzeiger”, many people living in western Switzerland have changed their minds in the past month. The initiative calls for an immediate start to talks on joining the EU. The Swiss government opposes the measure, saying it does not want to start negotiations before 2004.…

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Swiss Politics

Orange blues for Expo 2002

This content was published on Feb 21, 2001 Orange told Expo on February 14th that it was pulling out of its sponsorship deal, which would have involved the company staging an exhibition at the event. It added that it was ready to fight its decision in the courts if necessary. Laurent Paoliello, a spokesman for Expo 02, said they were confused by the…

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