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Swiss Politics

Switzerland takes stock of nuclear non-proliferation treaty

This content was published on Apr 25, 2000 Switzerland’s delegation attending the United Nations conference on the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in New York will be taking stock of progress, since the conference was set up in 1970. Switzerland signed the non-proliferation treaty in 1977 making it a full member of the conference. The Swiss delegation headed by the permanent representative to the UN,…

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Couchepin under fire for outspoken comments

This content was published on Apr 25, 2000 The Swiss economics minister, Pascal Couchepin, has drawn criticism for comments made about the planned reforms of the military at the weekend. It is not so much what he said as the fact that he said it which is being attacked. Couchepin argued in a newspaper article on Sunday that a new-style Swiss army, leaner…

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Amnesty International wants halt to repatriation of Rwandan refugees

This content was published on Apr 25, 2000 The Swiss branch of the human rights group, Amnesty International, has called for a halt to the repatriation of Rwandans living in Switzerland whose requests for asylum have been turned down. The appeal is based on a damning report of conditions in Rwanda, compiled after a government decision in February to send the asylum-seekers home.…

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Ogi warns army reform won’t come cheap

This content was published on Apr 22, 2000 The defence minister, Adolf Ogi, has warned that his proposed army reforms are not likely to lead to a reduction in military spending. Ogi told Le Temps newspaper that the smaller-scale army could cost even more than its present-day equivalent. Under the plans the number of troops serving in the army will be reduced from…

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Cantons and government give green light to Kosovo repatriation deadline

This content was published on Apr 21, 2000 The government and cantons have agreed to keep the May 31 deadline for the voluntary repatriation of refugees from Kosovo, who arrived before June 1999. Switzerland is due to start forcibly returning refugees after the deadline passes. The decision follows an agreement sealed earlier this month by the justice minister, Ruth Metzler, with the United…

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Federal Refugee Office confident of asylum success

This content was published on Apr 21, 2000 The director of the Federal Refugee Office, Jean-Daniel Gerber, says he is optimistic that consensus can be reached during next month’s national conference on asylum policy. He was speaking after the cantons and federal government reached an agreement to keep the May 31 deadline for the voluntary repatriation of Kosovo refugees. Gerber said he was…

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The week in Switzerland

This content was published on Apr 21, 2000 The week before Easter in Switzerland was marked by the resignation of the president of the Social Democratic Party. Ursula Koch stepped down after less than three years in power, bringing the conflict within one of Switzerland’s main parties to a head. Although Koch’s resignation was on the cards for some time, it still caused…

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Plans drawn up for possible evacuation of Swiss nationals from Zimbabwe

This content was published on Apr 19, 2000 Switzerland’s ambassador in Zimbabwe, Jean-Marc Boillat, has prepared contingency plans to evacuate Swiss nationals. The move comes as the conflict sparked by the occupation of white-owned farms threatens to spiral out of control. Two white farmers and several opposition activits have been killed in recent violence. “The uneasiness is growing,” says Boillat. “There is a…

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European Parliament commission calls for Yes in bilateral vote

This content was published on Apr 19, 2000 The European Parliamentary commission responsible for the bilateral accords with Switzerland has called on the Parliament’s members to approve the accords. The Italian Socialist Massimo Carraro, the commission chairman, succeeded in his stated aim of ensuring that the European Parliament made its view clear ahead of Switzerland’s referendum on the accords on May 21. The…

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Easing integration of foreigners

This content was published on Apr 18, 2000 The authorities in canton Lucerne have presented proposals aimed at easing the integration of foreigners and facilitating the practice of naturalisation. The report comes in the wake of a controversial decision by voters in the industrial town of Emmen. The cantonal government said it was considering changes to the law on citizenship. It said easing…

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