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Swiss Politics

Gorbachev warns of possible weapons catastrophe

This content was published on Dec 12, 2000 In a speech at the Swiss parliament in Bern on Tuesday, Gorbachev described the destruction of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons as one of the most important tasks facing mankind in the new millennium. And he urged western nations to do more to help Russia destroy its arsenal. He praised Switzerland for its speedy ratification…

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Government leads drive for more sport

This content was published on Dec 11, 2000 With around one third of all Swiss reportedly taking too little exercise, the government is seeking the help of industry as well as the health and education sectors to promote the benefits of physical activity. The sports minister, Adolf Ogi, described the new policy as a milestone. He said it was the first time the…

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Swiss Politics

Rumours of Ogi Kosovo job prove unfounded

This content was published on Dec 8, 2000 The UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Friday that Haekkerup, who is currently Danish defence minister, would take over the post currently held by Frenchman Bernard Kouchner in mid-January. Ogi was never officially offered the post, nor has disclosed details of his future career plans. However, Switzerland has been awash with speculation about Ogi’s future…

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Government steps up moves towards UN membership

This content was published on Dec 8, 2000 The cabinet’s proposal to take Switzerland into the United Nations was formally presented to parliament on Friday by the president, Adolf Ogi, and the foreign minister, Joseph Deiss. Ogi said Switzerland had much to offer the UN, not least as a “model of how different cultures can live peacefully together”. The government’s proposal states that…

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Swiss Politics

Nigerian tribe appeals for share of Abacha loot

This content was published on Dec 8, 2000 Speaking in Bern, Deebi Nwiado of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) said that up to 90 per cent of the funds linked to Abacha had come from Nigerian oil revenues. He said some of the money should be distributed among the people who had suffered as a result of big oil…

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Swiss Politics

Schmid to take over defence portfolio

This content was published on Dec 8, 2000 Schmid, a member of the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, confirmed his new post on Friday. The ministry includes the federal offices for civil protection and sport. Schmid will be the third People’s Party member to hold the defence portfolio since the seven cabinet posts were divided among the four main parties in 1959. That agreement…

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Swiss Politics

Ogi affirms Swiss intention to join European Union

This content was published on Dec 7, 2000 Ogi’s comments came during talks with EU leaders, who are holding a summit in the southern French city of Nice. The talks took place at a meeting between the EU and leaders from 12 countries who are trying to join the Union. The purpose of the meeting was to underline the commitment of both EU…

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Swiss Politics

Switzerland funds reconstruction projects in Croatia

This content was published on Dec 7, 2000 Deiss made the offer on Thursday during a one-day visit to Zagreb, where he held talks with his Croatian opposite number, Tonino Picula. “We will continue our active involvement in the humanitarian sector, which began during the war,” Deiss said after his meeting with Picula. “We are currently engaged in the Knin region, where we…

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Swiss Politics

Geneva bids to become home of new biological weapons agency

This content was published on Dec 7, 2000 The new Biological Weapons Secretariat will be responsible for implementing the 1972 Convention on Biological Weapons, which prohibits the production and stockpiling of these arms. “We are confident because Geneva is the logical location,” says Christian Faessler, the Swiss ambassador to the United Nations Disarmament Conference, who is handling Geneva’s candidature. Faessler’s delegation has offered…

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Swiss Politics

Schmid election leaves status quo intact

This content was published on Dec 7, 2000 Under the headline “The election which changed nothing”, the French-language “Le Temps” comments that, typically for Switzerland, political leaders failed to make any serious choices when Schmid was elected on Wednesday. In particular, it says the Social Democrats failed to carry out their threat to throw the People’s Party out of government. This would have…

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