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Swiss Politics

Voters remain divided over EU memberships talks

This content was published on Jan 4, 2001 An opinion poll, carried by the GfS research institute, said that 50 per cent of those questioned are in favour of immediate membership talks. Forty-seven per cent are against, while three per cent are still undecided. As expected, a clear majority of voters in the French-speaking part of the country came out in favour of…

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Overseas engagement to dominate Swiss political agenda in 2001

This content was published on Jan 3, 2001 A year after Swiss voters approved a series of bilateral treaties with the European Union, closer ties with 15-nation bloc continue to dominate the political agenda. In March, the electorate is to decide on a proposal to open immediate negotiations on full EU membership, but analysts expect voters to come out against it. According to…

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Proposal to give foreigners born in Switzerland citizenship

This content was published on Jan 3, 2001 The Federal Foreigners Commission on Wednesday said it was important to adapt legislation to reality, as about 600,000 foreigners are eligible for citizenship. Most of them were born in Switzerland or went to school in the country. Members of the commission say they are aware that much work needs to be done to convince voters…

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Switzerland helps Ethiopians to return home

This content was published on Jan 3, 2001 Around 1,000 Ethiopians arrived in Switzerland when the border war erupted and the Swiss programme aims to help them return and reintegrate into their homeland. The Federal Refugee office said that those Ethiopians who arrived in Switzerland before January 1998 could benefit from six months of training classes either in Switzerland or Ethiopia. The agency…

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Geneva to host talks between Indonesia and Aceh rebels

This content was published on Jan 2, 2001 At least 800 people have been killed during clashes between government forces and the rebels who are fighting for an independent homeland. “Negotiations with the rebel leader Hasan Tiro, or his representative, will be continued on January 8 in Geneva,” presidential spokesman Wimar Witoelar said. “President Abdurrahman Wahid wants to open dialogue as much as…

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Leuenberger takes over rotating Swiss presidency

This content was published on Jan 1, 2001 Leuenberger, 54, who retains his post as transport, energy and communications minister in the cabinet, succeeds Adolf Ogi who held the post in 2000. A member of the seven-member cabinet since 1995, Leuenberger also has wide political experience at a federal level and in his home canton of Zurich. He appears popular among parliamentarians. A…

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Ambassador revamps Switzerland’s image in UAE

This content was published on Dec 31, 2000 Barras, who has been in the UAE for over a year, is seeking to update the image of Switzerland among many UAE visitors, who tend to view the country as little more than a place to buy luxury goods and to escape the Gulf heat for summer holidays. He is also keen to point out…

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Swiss Politics

Europe to dominate Swiss politics in coming year

This content was published on Dec 29, 2000 On March 4, Swiss voters are to cast their ballots on the so-called “Yes to Europe” initiative, which demands that the government begin immediate talks on EU membership. The government has made full EU membership a future goal, but has signalled its opposition to the initiative, saying the move is premature. Political analysts say voters…

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Swiss Politics

Adolf Ogi bids farewell to power

This content was published on Dec 27, 2000 Ogi entered government in 1987 as transport, energy and communications minister and eight years later took over as defence minister. In that time, he chalked up more than 600 cabinet meetings, lasting 2,600 hours, and was involved in over 30,000 affairs of state. “It was a rich time, an interesting time, a hard time, but…

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Swiss show greater support for EU and UN membership

This content was published on Dec 23, 2000 Nearly half of the people polled believe that neutral Switzerland should enter immediate negotiations on membership of the European Union. The survey of 1,005 voters also found that 78 per cent of Swiss favoured arming soldiers serving on peace-keeping missions abroad, while 63 per cent supported Swiss accession to the United Nations. All three issues…

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