Swiss Politics

Swiss playing role in attempts to improve US-Iran relations

This content was published on Jan 23, 2000 Switzerland has been taking part in a dialogue aimed at improving the strained relations between Iran and the United States, according to a senior Swiss official, Franz von Däniken, who has just ended a visit to Teheran. Von Däniken, state secretary in the Swiss foreign ministry, said he had taken part in a “critical but…

Swiss Politics

Couchepin throws support behind national exhibition

This content was published on Jan 22, 2000 The economics minister, Pascal Couchepin, has come out in support of the troubled national exhibition, Expo.02, a day after the organisers said they had met the government’s demands for a streamlined version of the showpiece. Couchepin, who has been perceived as lukewarm on the national exhibition in the past, told delegates of his Radical Party…

Swiss Politics

The week in review

This content was published on Jan 22, 2000 There was hopeful news for Switzerland’s planned but troubled national exhibition, Expo.02. At the end of the week, the organisers presented a new study and said they had fulfilled the government’s financial conditions for the project to go ahead. The board said the government should now give the project the green light and release a…

Christian Democrats and Radical Party make their positions clear

This content was published on Jan 22, 2000 Two centre-right government parties have made their positions clear in the run-up to referenda scheduled to take place March 12. At a Radical Party assembly in Basel, delegates voted unanimously against an initiative for greater direct democracy launched by Denner, a supermarket chain. It also voted for a pro-choice stance on abortion, with just 2…

Swiss Politics

Ogi and Blocher at odds over foreign role of army

This content was published on Jan 21, 2000 Despite the smiles, the president, Adolf Ogi, and the populist de facto leader of his People’s Party, Christoph Blocher, have clashed at an annual meeting of the Zurich branch of the party in the town of Albisgüetli, not least over whether Swiss soldiers should be deployed abroad. Blocher said the People’s Party was the only…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland leads Europe as haven for asylum seekers

This content was published on Jan 21, 2000 Switzerland last year accepted more asylum seekers than any other country in Europe, relative to the size of its population. A survey by the United Nations refugee agency shows that in actual numbers, only Germany and Britain took in more people in 1999. According to a survey published by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees,…

Swiss Politics

Deportation of West Africans to Ivory Coast called into question

This content was published on Jan 20, 2000 Swiss non-governmental organisations have voiced concern about the government’s policy of deporting West African asylum-seekers to the Ivory Coast, if their applications for sanctuary are turned down in Switzerland. Last year, 90 West Africans were deported to Abidjan, even though many did not come from the Ivory Coast. Jürg Schertenleib, a spokesman for the Swiss…

Swiss Politics

Record number of asylum seekers in 1999

This content was published on Jan 14, 2000 The number of people seeking refuge in Switzerland has risen to a record level. The federal office for refugees said 46,068 people had applied for asylum in 1999, a rise of 11.5 per cent over 1998. Two-thirds of these came from the former Yugoslavia, in particular, Kosovo. The other main sources of asylum-seekers were Iraq…

Swiss Politics

Head of Foreigners Commission resigns

This content was published on Jan 12, 2000 The head of the Federal Commission on Foreigners, Fulvio Caccia, has resigned after his department was swallowed up by the Federal Foreigners Office. He stepped down on the day the government pledged five million francs for next year to help integration efforts. Caccia said he had telephoned the justice and police minister, Ruth Metzler, to…

Swiss Politics

Head of Swiss Post resigns

This content was published on Jan 11, 2000 The Swiss Post has announced that its head, Reto Braun, is to resign. A communiqué said that Braun was leaving at his own request at the beginning of next month. It added that Braun wanted to pursue a new career challenge. Braun is to become head of the Internet company, Fantastic Corporation, based in Zug…

Swiss Politics

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Swiss Politics

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Swiss playing role in attempts to improve US-Iran relations

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Couchepin throws support behind national exhibition

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The week in review

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Christian Democrats and Radical Party make their positions clear

More

Ogi and Blocher at odds over foreign role of army

More

Switzerland leads Europe as haven for asylum seekers

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Deportation of West Africans to Ivory Coast called into question

More

Record number of asylum seekers in 1999

More

Head of Foreigners Commission resigns

More

Head of Swiss Post resigns

Popular Stories

Most Discussed