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Swiss Politics

Swiss present at EU expansion talks

This content was published on Nov 23, 2000 Deiss was addressing a meeting in France of his counterparts from the 15 European Union states, and countries applying to join the bloc. The conference centred on the EU’s future development and expansion. While he emphasised the fact that Switzerland had no intention of trying to lecture its European neighbours on the issue of federalism,…

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UN asks Switzerland to suspend repatriations to Kosovo

This content was published on Nov 23, 2000 In a letter to the government, the UN administrator in Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner, said the reception facilities were unsatisfactory. The federal refugee office has agreed to send a fact-finding mission to Pristina before the end of the month to find out first-hand about the conditions for returning refugees. Spokesman, Dominique Boillat, said the office would…

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Swiss seek to adapt neutrality to new political realities

This content was published on Nov 22, 2000 The government, meeting in Bern on Wednesday, acknowledged that the traditionally strict interpretation of Swiss neutrality should be applied in a manner “more in keeping with the times”. The statement follows a working group report on the issue, which focused on Swiss policy in the 1990s, and in particular the logistical support provided by Swiss…

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Plain talking for Belgian royals

This content was published on Nov 22, 2000 No details were released about Wednesday’s meeting at Geneva airport but it was expected to focus on Belgium’s national airline, Sabena, which SAirGroup is due to take over. Earlier, the royal pair travelled to Lausanne, where they visited the International Olympic Committee Museum and met IOC president, Juan Antonio Samaranch. Also on Wednesday, the King…

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Belgian royals visit Switzerland

This content was published on Nov 21, 2000 On arrival in the country King Albert and his wife were given a reception with full military honours in Bern. They also met a delegation of Belgian expatriates living in Switzerland. In his speech, King Albert pointed out the similarities between Switzerland and Belgium, and paid tribute to the two countries’ close relations. He praised…

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“Magic Formula” still alive, but expect change in 2003, says Swiss academic

This content was published on Nov 19, 2000 In an interview with the “SonntagsBlick” newspaper, the canton Fribourg academic said that he didn’t expect major political changes before the 2003 general election. Despite strong words, Switzerland’s politicians lacked a real will to disrupt the status quo, he said. Under the “Magic Formula”, devised in 1959, the seven-member Swiss government is composed of two…

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Swiss environmentalist missing in Borneo

This content was published on Nov 19, 2000 Daniela Stoffel, a Swiss foreign ministry spokeswoman, confirmed that the country’s embassy had been coordinating a search for Manser, who went missing in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, on Borneo island. But there had been no news from the 46-year-old activist for six months. Manser, a long-standing defender of the rain forest, was working with…

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Russia blocks Georgia-bound Swiss military supplies

This content was published on Nov 18, 2000 A Swiss foreign ministry spokeswoman, Daniela Stoffel, said that the rail convoy was carrying trucks, winter clothing and medical supplies, to be used by the prison and customs services of the Caucasus state. Part of it had mistakenly been classified as diplomatic material, she said, and this would be investigated as soon as possible. Philippe…

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Four candidates officially declared in Ogi succession race

This content was published on Nov 18, 2000 Ogi’s announcement last month that he planned to leave politics at the end of the year started the process of nominating a successor. Speculation has been fierce over the party’s choice. The People’s Party has been riven by splits between supporters of the moderate Ogi and those of the right-wing member of the Zurich section,…

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Switzerland to boost its international presence and aid

This content was published on Nov 16, 2000 Membership of the EU remains one of the top priorities, the government said in a white paper outlining the country’s foreign policy agenda for the next 10 years. A decision on when to begin entry negotiations will be taken before 2008, when the next legislative period ends. In the meantime, the government wants to open…

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