Swiss Politics

Concerns raised over Swiss troops in Kosovo

This content was published on Jun 7, 2011 Swiss soldiers have been on the ground in Kosovo for 12 years and the new mandate approved by parliament on Monday includes the possibility of boosting the 220-strong contingent at short notice by 80 additional troops for 12 months. The move has raised timeworn questions about Swiss neutrality, the justification for the mission and how best…

Swiss Politics

Another SFr290 million of Libyan assets frozen

This content was published on Jun 7, 2011 Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey said the value of Libyan assets now blocked on Swiss accounts totalled SFr650 million. Calmy-Rey told parliament on Tuesday that the vast majority of newly discovered assets belong to Libyan public companies rather than individuals. Switzerland has joined other European countries and the United States in blocking funds linked to Libyan…

Swiss Politics

Request for EU membership remains shelved

This content was published on Jun 7, 2011 A majority argued such a move would jeopardise ongoing negotiations on bilateral treaties with Brussels. However, members of the rightwing Swiss People’s Party argued membership of the EU was not an option. “It is time to finally close the backdoor to EU membership,” said Senator Maximilian Reimann during Monday’s debate. Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey reiterated…

Swiss Politics

Swiss women celebrate 40 years of suffrage

This content was published on Jun 6, 2011 Exactly 40 years after their first chance to do so, around 125 representatives of the Swiss political, social and economic scenes celebrated the milestone in Bern on Monday. On February 7, 1971, 66 per cent of Swiss men voted in favour of allowing women to vote as well. The first opportunity came on June 6…

Swiss Politics

Swisscoy to remain in Kosovo until 2014

This content was published on Jun 6, 2011 The House of Representatives on Monday followed the Senate in agreeing the continuing deployment of Swiss troops in the former Serbian province until the end of 2014 despite opposition from the rightwing Swiss People’s Party and members of the Greens. Supporters, including Defence Minister Ueli Maurer, said the presence of an international peacekeeping force was…

Swiss Politics

Law fails immigrant women, says report

This content was published on Jun 6, 2011 The Swiss observatory for the rights of asylum seekers and foreigners says many women are trapped because their right to stay is linked to their marital status. If they try to get free of a violent partner, they are likely to be sent home. The law on family reunification stipulates that a woman who comes…

Swiss Politics

Cabinet ratifies ban on cluster bombs

This content was published on Jun 6, 2011 The cabinet is also proposing an amendment to the law on war materials, including a ban on the direct and indirect funding of outlawed munitions, according to a foreign ministry statement on Monday. Parliament is to discuss the issues at a later date. Campaigners have accused 16 Swiss companies, including the two big banks UBS…

Swiss Politics

Land of immigration a “nationalist construct”

This content was published on Jun 6, 2011 Swiss historian and immigration specialist Leo Schelbert tells swissinfo.ch that his homeland is not more hostile towards migrants than other nations, and that America is not as welcoming as it makes out. In an election year, Switzerland’s rightwing People’s Party has announced that it will launch a people’s initiative to restrict immigration, claiming that allowing…

Swiss Politics

Cabinet approves legal moves against Libya

This content was published on Jun 6, 2011 The application was made in connection with the case of the two Swiss businessmen, Rachid Hamdani and Max Göldi, who were prevented from leaving Libya in the aftermath of the brief detention in Geneva of a son of Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi in July 2008. The two men spent much of the time living in…

Swiss Politics

Survey backs slow shift from nuclear power

This content was published on Jun 5, 2011 Polling institute gfs.Bern found 67 per cent of respondents would vote for ending nuclear power, while 84 per cent agreed that a solution guaranteeing the power needs of Switzerland should not be rushed through. Just 29 per cent backed nuclear power, but that figure rose to 41 per cent when it involved replacing ageing power…

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Concerns raised over Swiss troops in Kosovo

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Another SFr290 million of Libyan assets frozen

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Request for EU membership remains shelved

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Swiss women celebrate 40 years of suffrage

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Swisscoy to remain in Kosovo until 2014

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Law fails immigrant women, says report

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Cabinet ratifies ban on cluster bombs

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Land of immigration a “nationalist construct”

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Cabinet approves legal moves against Libya

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Survey backs slow shift from nuclear power

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