Swiss Politics

Switzerland offers to host peace summit between Israel and Syria

This content was published on Mar 3, 2000 The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, says Switzerland is ready to host peace talks involving Israel, Syria and the United States, provided all sides want such a meeting. His comments come after the Israeli ambassador to Switzerland called on Deiss to clarify remarks he made about Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights. Deiss raised the…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland boosts emergency aid to Mozambique

This content was published on Mar 3, 2000 The Swiss government has increased its emergency relief aid to flood victims in Mozambique to SFr10 million. Walter Fust, who heads Swiss humanitarian relief as well as the government’s Development Agency, said the most urgent need is for more helicopters and shallow-draught boats for rescue work. However, as these would take too long to transport…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland seeks to break deadlock in peace talks with Israel and Syria

This content was published on Mar 3, 2000 Switzerland has raised the possibility of hosting a summit between Israel and Syria as part of efforts to restart the stalled Middle East peace talks, according to the foreign ministry. A spokesman said the foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, made it clear during his visit to Syria that if all sides wanted such a meeting, Switzerland…

Swiss Politics

US lauds Switzerland as key partner

This content was published on Mar 3, 2000 The United States Ambassador to Berne, J. Richard Fredericks, says that Switzerland is by definition “important to America and to Americans – and so is its participation in Europe’s great adventure of change.” Speaking to the American Club of Zurich, Ambassador Fredericks said Switzerland was one of the world’s “exemplary democracies”, actively engaged in bringing…

Swiss Politics

Fate of Koch leadership hangs in the balance

This content was published on Mar 3, 2000 The president of the Social Democratic Party, Ursula Koch, is facing another major test this weekend in her bid to retain her post. A decision will shortly be made on whether to call a special party congress which could unseat her. A meeting of the party’s management committee is being held today to consider the…

Swiss Politics

Deiss urges Israel to pull out of Lebanon

This content was published on Mar 2, 2000 The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, is in Lebanon on the last leg of his nine-day tour of the Middle East. Speaking in Beirut, Deiss underlined Lebanon’s right to territorial and political sovereignty. His comments came after a meeting with the interior minister, Michel Murr. Deiss said that Berne supported the United Nations resolution calling…

Swiss Politics

Deiss on last stage of Middle East trip

This content was published on Mar 2, 2000 The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, is in Lebanon on the last leg of his nine-day tour of the Middle East. Deiss, seen here inspecting a guard of honour in Beirut, will hold talks focussing on the Middle East peace process, and boosting trade links. Deiss drove to Lebanon from Syria, where he held talks…

Swiss Politics

Ogi urges greater Swiss role in international peacekeeping

This content was published on Mar 2, 2000 Switzerland’s president and defence minister, Adolf Ogi, has called for greater Swiss involvement in international peacekeeping operations. Ogi told a meeting of Nato partner countries in Montreux that international cooperation was a pillar of Switzerland’s security policy. Ogi said that no country can tackle security in isolation and that cooperation in international peacekeeping missions was…

Swiss Politics

Rights group urges no Swiss meeting with Schüssel

This content was published on Mar 1, 2000 The Swiss branch of a European civic rights group has protested against plans by the federal government to receive the new Austrian chancellor, Wolfgang Schüssel. In a full-page advertisement in the prestigious Neue Zürcher Zeitung daily, the organisation appealed to the Swiss to write to the president, Adolf Ogi, and urge him not to meet…

Swiss Politics

Deiss visits Golan Heights

This content was published on Mar 1, 2000 The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, who’s on a visit to Syria, has visited the Golan Heights, where he held talks with United Nations peacekeepers and Swiss observers monitoring the ceasefire in the divided territory. Despite its neutrality, Switzerland has called for Israel to return the Golan Heights to Syria. Later today he is due…

Swiss Politics

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Switzerland offers to host peace summit between Israel and Syria

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Switzerland boosts emergency aid to Mozambique

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Switzerland seeks to break deadlock in peace talks with Israel and Syria

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US lauds Switzerland as key partner

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Fate of Koch leadership hangs in the balance

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Deiss urges Israel to pull out of Lebanon

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Deiss on last stage of Middle East trip

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Ogi urges greater Swiss role in international peacekeeping

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Rights group urges no Swiss meeting with Schüssel

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Deiss visits Golan Heights

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