Swiss Politics

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…

Swiss Politics

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…

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…

Swiss Politics

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…

Swiss Politics

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…

Swiss Politics

Swiss aid to Poland to be scaled down, and trade boosted

This content was published on Apr 17, 2000 Central Europe is sufficiently developed for Switzerland’s aid programmes to be downscaled and refocused on the Balkans, the foreign minister, Joseph Deiss told his Polish counterpart, Bronislaw Geremek in Warsaw. However, Deiss said environmental aid packages would continue. Deiss said Poland had received Sfr150 million in Swiss aid over the past ten years, but that…

Swiss Politics

Swiss friend of refugees dies aged 95

This content was published on Apr 17, 2000 August Lindt, the former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, has died in Berne aged 95. He was also well-known as a journalist and international diplomat. Lindt was dedicated to the ideal that Swiss neutrality should not prevent the country from playing a global role. He began his career as a journalist in the 1920s,…

Swiss Politics

Further resignations possible in Social Democrats

This content was published on Apr 17, 2000 The possibility of other members resigning from the leadership of the Social Democratic Party has been raised, following the announcement on Saturday that the president, Ursula Koch (pictured) was stepping down after a long-running party wrangle. In a newspaper interview, the party’s secretary-general, Jean-Francois Steiert, who was one of Koch’s main opponents, indicated he might…

Swiss Politics

Swiss People’s Party vote strengthens EU accords’ prospects

This content was published on Apr 17, 2000 The Swiss People’s Party has come out in favour of the bilateral accords between Switzerland and the European Union. They are the subject of a nationwide referendum on May 21. In a ballot at the People’s party conference in Appenzell, 297 delegates voted in favour of the accords, 201 against. All four parties in the…

Swiss Politics

Red Cross paves way for third emblem

This content was published on Apr 14, 2000 The Red Cross movement has moved a step closer to resolving one of its thorniest problems – that of its emblems. A special working group has proposed that a third symbol, probably a red diamond, be introduced, which could pave the way for Israel to be welcomed into the Red Cross fold. “This is a…

Swiss Politics

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Swiss Politics

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Federal Refugee Office confident of asylum success

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The week in Switzerland

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Plans drawn up for possible evacuation of Swiss nationals from Zimbabwe

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European Parliament commission calls for Yes in bilateral vote

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Easing integration of foreigners

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Swiss aid to Poland to be scaled down, and trade boosted

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Swiss friend of refugees dies aged 95

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Further resignations possible in Social Democrats

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Swiss People’s Party vote strengthens EU accords’ prospects

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Red Cross paves way for third emblem

Popular Stories

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