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Swiss Politics

Metzler says Kosovo ready for return of refugees

This content was published on Apr 7, 2000 The Swiss justice minister, Ruth Metzler (pictured), says the prospects for Kosovar refugees who return home are good. Metzler made the statement shortly after arriving in Berne from a three-day trip to Kosovo. Metzler said the security situation in had improved greatly over the past ten months. She said her visit had given her a…

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Metzler meets repatriated Kosovar refugees

This content was published on Apr 6, 2000 Switzerland’s justice minister, Ruth Metzler, has met a group of repatriated Kosovar refugees on the second day of her official visit to the Yugoslav province. The aim of her trip is primarily to ensure conditions are adequate for the return of about 40,000 refugees that were taken in by the Swiss last year, following Nato’s…

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Amnesty lambasts Swiss police

This content was published on Apr 6, 2000 Switzerland has come in for harsh criticism from Amnesty International for “dangerous methods of restraint” used during forcible deportations of illegal immigrants from Zurich-Kloten airport. In one case, three police officers and a doctor are under investigation in connection with the death by suffocation of a Palestinian deportee one year ago. In a report entitled…

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Swiss Politics

Ogi concludes visit to Britain

This content was published on Apr 4, 2000 The Swiss president, Adolf Ogi (pictured right), has concluded a two-day trip to Britain during which Switzerland’s security policy took centre-stage. Before flying back to Berne from London on Tuesday evening, Ogi said the trip had been a success, and that he was pleased with the warm welcome bestowed on him. Ogi’s trip included talks…

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Britain salutes Swiss defence on Ogi visit

This content was published on Apr 3, 2000 Britain has lavished praise on Switzerland’s security policy during a two-day visit to London by the Swiss president and defence minister, Adolf Ogi (pictured left). The British defence minister, Geoff Hoon (right), singled out Switzerland’s contribution to peacekeeping in Kosovo, Swisscoy, and the helicopter “Operation Alba” in Albania. Ogi and Hoon focused talks on security…

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Swiss Politics

Populist right-winger launches attack on Socialism

This content was published on Apr 3, 2000 One of Switzerland’s best-known politicians, the right-wing populist, Christoph Blocher (pictured), has published a wide-ranging attack on socialism in Swiss politics. The 24-page document argues that socialism has the same roots as fascism and national socialism. In the text, Blocher says these ideologies share the same goal of giving unlimited power to the state. The…

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Red Cross questions Kosovar repatriation plan

This content was published on Apr 3, 2000 The Swiss Red Cross has criticised the government’s plan to begin the forcible repatriation of 30,000 Kosovar refugees at the end of next month. It says they are ill-prepared to face the dangers of unexploded landmines. The Red Cross indicated that Switzerland should extend its deadline due to the continued threats to the returnees’ safety.…

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Swiss Politics

Row breaks out over weapons procurement

This content was published on Apr 2, 2000 A row has reportedly broken out between the Swiss president, Adolf Ogi, and the economics minister, Pascal Couchepin, over weapons procurement. Couchepin is said to be strongly opposed to government plans to buy nearly SFr1 billion worth of armoured personnel carriers for the Swiss army. Exactly when this row started is difficult to determine. Last…

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Swiss Politics

The week ahead in Switzerland

This content was published on Apr 2, 2000 A visit to Britain by the Swiss president, Adolf Ogi, a nail biting election in canton Thurgau, and the unveiling of a holiday scheme for landmine victims, are some of the events likely to hit the headlines in Switzerland this week. On Tuesday, the Swiss president will travel to Britain for talks with the culture…

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Swiss Politics

Blocher accused of using “Stalinist” arguments

This content was published on Apr 2, 2000 The president of Switzerland’s Radical Party, Franz Steinegger (file picture), has accused the right-wing parliamentarian, Christoph Blocher, of using the same arguments as Stalin in his attacks on his political opponents, in an interview with a Sunday newspaper. Recently out of hospital for heart treatment, Franz Steinegger jumped straight back into the political fray by…

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