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Swiss Politics

Justice minister rules out hasty reform of citizenship laws

This content was published on Apr 1, 2000 The Swiss justice minister, Ruth Metzler, has ruled out any knee-jerk reaction to recent controversy over Switzerland’s naturalisation laws. Her comments come as a government-appointed committee considers whether there should be a right of appeal for people whose citizenship applications are turned down. Ruth Metzler made it clear that the government intends to proceed slowly…

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Campaigners take fresh approach in fight for foreigners’ rights

This content was published on Apr 1, 2000 Two Swiss human rights groups have formed a new movement to take up the cudgels on behalf of asylum seekers and migrants. The news comes against a backdrop of increasing concern about the rights and treatment of foreigners living in Switzerland. The new organisation, called “Solidarité sans frontières”, was formed from the merger of Asylum…

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New boss for Swiss human rights group

This content was published on Apr 1, 2000 A parliamentarian from the Swiss People’s Party, Lisbeth Fehr (file picture), has been appointed president of the Swiss branch of the International Society for Human Rights. She becomes the first woman to head the organisation. Fehr, a teacher from canton Zurich, was appointed at the Society’s general assembly in Berne. She takes over less than…

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Switzerland to help register Kosovar returnees

This content was published on Mar 31, 2000 Switzerland is to make Sfr 1.9 million available to the UN Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK), to help the breakaway Yugoslav province set up a residents’ and election register. The first municipal elections in Kosovo are planned for October this year. The international community is faced with the difficult task of bringing order to the province,…

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Demonstrators turn out against Schüssel

This content was published on Mar 31, 2000 Around 600 people have turned out in the Swiss capital, Berne, to protest against the visit by the Austrian chancellor, Wolfgang Schüssel (pictured left, with Swiss president Adolf Ogi). The protestors represented a variety of groups, from Jewish organisations, the left wing, and anti-racists. They have been angered by the Swiss government’s decision to welcome…

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“Business as usual” with Austria

This content was published on Mar 31, 2000 The Swiss president, Adolf Ogi (pictured right) and the Austrian chancellor, Wolfgang Schüssel (left) have emphasised the good relations between Switzerland and Austria after talks in Berne. Ogi said it was “business as usual”, despite international attempts to isolate Vienna over the inclusion of the far-right Freedom Party in the coalition. After talks in Berne,…

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21,698 new Swiss citizens in 1999

This content was published on Mar 31, 2000 Just under 22,000 people became Swiss citizens in 1999, a figure which almost matches that of 1998. The biggest group, at 26 per cent of the total, were Italians. The Federal Justice and Police Department said the 21,698 new citizens came from a wide range of countries besides Italy. They included Yugoslavs (10 per cent),…

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Swiss Politics

Austrian chancellor begins controversial visit

This content was published on Mar 31, 2000 Despite being shunned by much of Europe, the Austrian chancellor, Wolfgang Schüssel, has arrived in Switzerland on a one-day visit – one of the first foreign visits by the head of the controversial new government in Vienna. Schüssel is due to hold talks with the Swiss president, Adolf Ogi, together with the foreign minister, Joseph…

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Switzerland offers conditional Balkans aid

This content was published on Mar 30, 2000 Switzerland says it will contribute 200 million francs worth of aid this year for the Balkans. Swiss foreign ministry officials made the pledge at a donors’ Stability Pact conference in Brussels. However, Switzerland said further aid is conditional on being made a full member of the Pact. The state secretary in the foreign ministry, Franz…

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Expatriates in favour of EU bilateral accords

This content was published on Mar 28, 2000 Representatives of Switzerland’s large expatriate community say they are in favour of a series of bilateral accords with the European Union. The seven accords will be voted on in a referendum on May 21. At a meeting in Berne, the Swiss Abroad Organisation said the agreements and, primarily, the treaty on the free movement of…

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