Swiss Politics Archives - Page 1308 of 1338

More

Swiss Politics

Christian Democrats say yes to EU bilaterals

This content was published on Mar 25, 2000 The Christian Democrats have voted in favour of Switzerland’s bilateral accords with the European Union at their party congress. They also heard from the party president, Adalbert Durrer, that the “Magic Formula” system of government is under threat. The 191 delegates at the congress, sitting in Romanshorn, canton Thurgau, voted unanimously to campaign for a…

More

Swiss Politics

THE WEEK IN SWITZERLAND

This content was published on Mar 24, 2000 The town of Emmen in canton Lucerne, which found itself in the unwelcome glare of publicity over its controversial naturalisation process, was in the news again. This time the town authorities decided to put all requests from foreigners for citzenship on hold until the end of the year. The moratorium announced on Wednesday means around…

More

Swiss Politics

Disaster Relief Unit rises to the needs resulting from global disasters and war

This content was published on Mar 24, 2000 Switzerland’s Disaster Relief Unit has marked its annual meeting by taking stock of its efforts to come to the aid of victims of global catastrophes. 1999 saw a record number of wars and natural disasters. But the unit said its response was also at an all-time high. “Last year, we contributed particularly to the Balkan…

More

Swiss Politics

Geneva hosts Clinton-Assad summit

This content was published on Mar 24, 2000 President Clinton and the Syrian president, Hafez al-Assad, have begun a crucial summit in Geneva to discuss the Middle East peace process, amid indications that an Israeli-Syrian deal may be near. The meeting is taking place under tight security at Geneva’s Intercontinental hotel. The delegations have left open how long the talks will last. Unconfirmed…

More

Swiss Politics

Deiss offers Swiss help in Middle East peace process

This content was published on Mar 24, 2000 Switzerland’s foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, has offered further assistance in the Middle East peace process. He made the offer after discussing Sunday’s US-Syrian summit in Geneva with the American secretary of state, Madeleine Albright. Deiss met Albright in Geneva ahead of the summit between President Clinton and the Syrian president, Hafez Al-Assad. Deiss had raised…

More

Swiss Politics

French-speaking Switzerland shows solidarity with foreigners in Emmen

This content was published on Mar 23, 2000 The authorities in Lausanne have joined the city parliament in Geneva, by saying they are willing to naturalise 48 foreigners whose applications for citizenship were turned down by voters in the central Swiss town of Emmen, where they reside. Geneva and Lausanne called on cantonal and federal officials to allow them to grant citizenship to…

More

Swiss Politics

Swiss government says Kosovar repatriation depends on “external factors”

This content was published on Mar 23, 2000 The justice minister, Ruth Metzler (pictured), says the success of the repatriation of Kosovar refugees depends on factors such as the state of the peace process. The statement follows criticism of the government’s forced-repatriation policy. Metzler’s latest statement may seem aimed at toning-down the alleged hardline policy. At present, Berne is planning to forcibly repatriate…

More

Swiss Politics

Moratorium on naturalisation requests in town of Emmen

This content was published on Mar 23, 2000 The authorities in the central Swiss town of Emmen have placed a moratorium on processing any new naturalisation requests, following harsh criticism from within Switzerland and abroad of its system of allowing residents to vote on citizenship applications. The authorities have reacted to the criticism by suspending the applications of another 250 foreigners living in…

More

Swiss Politics

Swiss parliamentarians to monitor Russian presidential elections

This content was published on Mar 23, 2000 Two Swiss parliamentarians are part of a Council of Europe delegation that will be monitoring Russia’s presidential elections on Sunday. Andreas Gross and Claude Frey, along with their 11 European collegues, are heading for Moscow at the Russian parliament’s request. The team is set to visit balloting stations in Moscow as well as in several…

More

Swiss Politics

Swiss refugee policy seen as hindrance to reconstruction in Kosovo

This content was published on Mar 22, 2000 The head of the United Nations civil administration in Kosovo, Tom Koenigs, is warning that Switzerland’s policy of forcibly returning refugees from Kosovo to their homes is hindering efforts to re-build the battered province. Berne is planning to repatriate Kosovars who do not leave Switzerland of their own accord by the end of May. Koenigs…

Swiss Politics

Popular Stories

Most Discussed