Swiss Politics

Deiss says Assad optimistic about Mideast peace

This content was published on Mar 1, 2000 The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, has held talks with Syria’s president, Hafez Al-Assad, and the Syrian foreign minister, Farouq Al-Shara. The talks in Damascus focused on the deadlocked Middle East peace process. Deiss later told a news conference that Assad had appeared optimistic about the future of the peace process. “I asked him whether…

Swiss Politics

Austrian foreign minister to visit Berne

This content was published on Feb 29, 2000 Austria’s new foreign minister, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will make her first visit to Switzerland next week. The announcement was made by the Swiss foreign ministry. Ferrero-Waldner, a member of the mainstream conservative Austrian People’s Party, is scheduled to visit Berne on March 8, when she will hold talks with her Swiss counterpart, Joseph Deiss. News of…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland sees Haider resignation as positive sign

This content was published on Feb 29, 2000 Switzerland’s foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, has welcomed the resignation of Jörg Haider (pictured) as a positive gesture towards Austria’s European partners. Haider stepped down as leader of the far-right Freedom Party on Monday. Speaking during his visit to the Middle East, Deiss said the resignation would be a constructive move if it had a positive…

Swiss Politics

Deiss travels to Syria on Middle East tour

This content was published on Feb 29, 2000 The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, is travelling to Syria today, on the second leg of a nine-day tour of the Middle East. In Damascus, Deiss will meet the president, Hafez al-Assad, and the foreign minister, Farouk al-Shara. They will discuss how to improve lukewarm relationship between Switzerland and Syria. Talks are also expected to…

Swiss Politics

Deiss discusses mideast peace in Syria

This content was published on Feb 29, 2000 The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, has met his Syrian counterpart Farouq al-Shara to discuss the stalled Syrian-Israeli peace talks and ways to improve bilateral relations. “We are interested in getting a comprehensive picture on the status of the Middle East peace process from the Syrian officials,” Deiss told reporters before meeting Shara. “We maintain…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland and Albania seal accord on repatriation of refugees

This content was published on Feb 29, 2000 Switzerland and Albania have signed an accord on the repatriation of asylum-seekers from Albania and refugees from Kosovo. The deal was signed in Berne on Tuesday by the Albanian justice minister, Spartak Poci, and his Swiss counterpart, Ruth Metzler. The accord provides for the return to Albania of refugees whose requests for asylum have been…

Swiss Politics

Gygi is new Post Office boss

This content was published on Feb 28, 2000 The Swiss Post Office has appointed Ulrich Gygi as its new director-general. He takes over from the controversial Reto Braun, who tendered his resignation in January after just 16 months in the job. Gygi, a 54-year-old economist from canton Berne, joins Swiss Post from the finance ministry. His background as a career civil servant is…

Berne and Tirana to sign refugee repatriation accord

This content was published on Feb 28, 2000 The Albanian justice minister, Spartak Poci, is on a two-day visit to Switzerland during which he and his Swiss counterpart, Ruth Metzler, are expected to sign an accord on the repatriation of refugees. The accord provides for the return to Albania of refugees whose requests for asylum have been turned down. It also allows Berne…

Swiss Politics

Deiss pays homage to massacre victims

This content was published on Feb 27, 2000 The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, has laid a wreath in the Egyptian city of Luxor, where 36 Swiss tourists were killed in a terrorist attack in 1997. Deiss, who’s on the last day of a visit to Egypt, paid homage to the Swiss nationals, who were among the 62 tourists killed by Islamic militants…

Swiss Politics

Social Democrats’ Ursula Koch vows to fight on

This content was published on Feb 27, 2000 The president of the Social Democratic party, Ursula Koch, has reaffirmed that she has no intention to resign. However, she has admitted that the party is in need of far-reaching structural reform. During an interview with the German-language radio station DRS at the weekend, Koch stated forcefully that she would not quit. Although she admitted…

Swiss Politics

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Deiss says Assad optimistic about Mideast peace

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Austrian foreign minister to visit Berne

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Switzerland sees Haider resignation as positive sign

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Deiss travels to Syria on Middle East tour

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Deiss discusses mideast peace in Syria

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Switzerland and Albania seal accord on repatriation of refugees

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Gygi is new Post Office boss

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Berne and Tirana to sign refugee repatriation accord

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Deiss pays homage to massacre victims

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Social Democrats’ Ursula Koch vows to fight on

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