Swiss Politics

Anti-globalisation protesters holed up in Mobutu villa

This content was published on Aug 31, 2001 Around 15 members of the Lausanne-based La Smala movement have been holed up in the villa since Thursday. They want the house turned into a “Museum of Dictatorships”. The police have not intervened, although they were holding talks with a local official on Friday. “We hope to be able to stay here for four days…

Swiss Politics

Committee backs Swiss gold reserves plan

This content was published on Aug 28, 2001 The House of Representatives’ Committee for Economic Affairs and Taxes joined the Senate in supporting the plan, and voted against the centre-right Swiss People’s Party’s initiative to invest the money solely in the state pension scheme, which is expected to face a shortfall in the future. In June, the Senate overwhelmingly approved using some of…

Swiss Politics

Champion of refugees dies

This content was published on Aug 23, 2001 A non-governmental refugee group, CEDRI, said Koch died on Tuesday after suffering from a short illness. The group said Koch was a vocal advocate of improving the lot of immigrants, who face expulsion from Switzerland. Koch was born in Romania, grew up in Switzerland and following studies in Switzerland, France and Italy, became a Catholic…

Lausanne snubbed as home of anti-doping crusade

This content was published on Aug 21, 2001 The choice of Montreal was made by WADA’s 33-member Foundation Board, the agency’s highest decision-making body, during a meeting in the Estonian capital, Tallinn. The Canadian city received 17 votes in the fourth round of voting, compared with Lausanne’s 15. “We are slightly surprised,” said Bernard Métraux, Lausanne’s director of sports and a member of…

Swiss Politics

Church occupiers reject calls to leave

This content was published on Aug 21, 2001 Representatives of the local parish said they would allow five of the protesters to remain inside the church as a symbolic gesture, but called on the rest to vacate the building. The protesters rejected the offer, saying they were only prepared to reduce the number of people taking refuge inside the church to 30. The…

Swiss Politics

Swiss expatriates conference draws to a close

This content was published on Aug 19, 2001 The three-day convention in Davos focused on relations between Switzerland and the United Nations. In a series of speeches and panel discussions, Swiss experts explained the different aspects of the UN and its agencies, as well as the role of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The debates focused on how Switzerland could improve…

Swiss Politics

Deiss says UN membership would boost Swiss image

This content was published on Aug 18, 2001 Addressing a meeting of Swiss expatriates in Davos on Saturday, Deiss said there was no reason for Switzerland to be virtually the only country in the world to stay outside the UN adding that Switzerland’s traditional neutrality would not be curtailed by full UN membership. Deiss emphasisesd that Switzerland would benefit from such a decision…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland hosts world’s largest student conference

This content was published on Aug 18, 2001 The official opening ceremony of AIESEC’s 53rd Congress took place on Friday evening. The guest list included Klaus Schwab of the World Economic Forum and Juan Somavia of the International Labour Organisation. Members of the public attended the opening party, which featured music, dancing and food from around the world. After the opening celebration, the…

Swiss Politics

Expatriates discuss Swiss ties with UN

This content was published on Aug 17, 2001 The organisers expect about 500 people from all corners of the globe to attend the three-day congress. Politicians and personalities from the business community and cultural organisations will debate the UN ties in a series of panel discussions. Rudolf Wyder, director of the Organisation for the Swiss Abroad, says the focus of the meeting is…

Swiss Politics

Ministers fail to break deadlock in German-Swiss air transport dispute

This content was published on Aug 15, 2001 Germany reiterated that it would take unilateral steps if no agreement were reached at the final meeting in Bonn next month. Addressing a news conference in Bern on Tuesday, both ministers said they narrowed their differences in the latest round of talks. However, three issues still remained to be resolved. Leuenberger said no consensus was…

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Anti-globalisation protesters holed up in Mobutu villa

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Committee backs Swiss gold reserves plan

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Champion of refugees dies

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Lausanne snubbed as home of anti-doping crusade

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Church occupiers reject calls to leave

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Swiss expatriates conference draws to a close

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Deiss says UN membership would boost Swiss image

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Switzerland hosts world’s largest student conference

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Expatriates discuss Swiss ties with UN

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Ministers fail to break deadlock in German-Swiss air transport dispute

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