Swiss Politics

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

Switzerland and Egypt begin new chapter in their relations

This content was published on Feb 26, 2000 The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, and his Egyptian counterpart, Amr Moussa (pictured) have agreed to lay to rest disputes over the Luxor Massacre of 1997, in which 36 Swiss nationals died. Deiss is on a nine-day tour of the Middle East. Deiss and and his Egyptian counterpart, Amr Moussa, said they were both looking…

Swiss Politics

Petition against planned visit by Austrian Chancellor

This content was published on Feb 26, 2000 The Jewish community in Switzerland has launched a petition calling on the government to delay a planned official visit by the Austrian Chancellor, Wolfgang Schüssel (pictured). The petition was launched in the Jewish weekly, “Israelitisches Wochenblatt”. It asks the Swiss authorities to postpone any visit until the new Austrian government, which includes the far right…

Swiss Politics

Social Democrats call crisis talks

This content was published on Feb 25, 2000 The executive of the Social Democratic Party is to meet next week to try resolve a festering dispute that’s threatening to split the party. The special meeting was called by the management committee of the Social Democrats, one of the four parties represented in government. The party’s spokesman, Jean-Philippe Jeannerat, told a news conference in…

Swiss Politics

Chief of Staff criticises plan to reform secret services

This content was published on Feb 25, 2000 The armed forces chief of staff, Hans-Ulrich Scherrer, has criticised the recommendation by a government-appointed commission that the secret services should be professionalised and placed under civilian control. Scherrer told a news conference in Berne on Friday that the work they did was invaluable and was used as a base for Switzerland’s general view and…

Swiss Politics

Government to press ahead with UN membership plans

This content was published on Feb 25, 2000 The Swiss government has indicated it will go ahead with plans to join the United Nations, even if a people’s initiative on the issue fails to collect the necessary 100,000 signatures. After a special cabinet session, the government said it had decided to launch a comprehensive consultation process within Switzerland in order to present draft…

Swiss Politics

Party leaders meet to decide fate of Social Democrat president

This content was published on Feb 25, 2000 Leaders of the Social Democratic Party are meeting today to decide the future of their president, Ursula Koch (pictured), who is attempting to stay in office despite calls for her resignation. On Thursday, Koch dismissed criticism of her leadership and vowed to stay in office. However, she indicated she was awaiting the decision by party…

Swiss Politics

Deiss begins Middle East tour

This content was published on Feb 24, 2000 The foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, has arrived in Egypt at the start of a nine-day tour of the Middle East, which will also take him to Syria and Lebanon. It’s the first official visit to these countries by a Swiss foreign minister since 1985. Deiss arrived in Cairo several hours later than scheduled, because of…

Swiss Politics

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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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Switzerland and Egypt begin new chapter in their relations

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Petition against planned visit by Austrian Chancellor

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Social Democrats call crisis talks

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Chief of Staff criticises plan to reform secret services

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Government to press ahead with UN membership plans

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Party leaders meet to decide fate of Social Democrat president

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Deiss begins Middle East tour

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