Swiss Politics

Freezing of presidential accounts welcomed

This content was published on Jan 19, 2011 A sensible decision, according to international corruption expert Mark Pieth, although he tells swissinfo.ch that illicit funds may already have been moved elsewhere. Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey announced the cabinet’s decision at a news conference in Bern on Wednesday. Calmy-Rey said the freezing of assets would apply for a three-year period to…

Swiss Politics

Swiss freeze Tunisian accounts

This content was published on Jan 19, 2011 The seven-member cabinet also agreed to freeze any assets belonging to Laurent Gbagbo of Ivory Coast, who is clinging to power despite having lost a presidential election to Alassane Ouattara in November. “The government decided at its meeting today [Wednesday] to freeze any funds in Switzerland of the ex-Tunisian president and his entourage with immediate…

Swiss Politics

Swiss impose tougher sanctions on Iran

This content was published on Jan 19, 2011 As of Thursday, Switzerland can no longer export military equipment to Iran or goods that could be used for internal social repression. Further sanctions are in place for materials that could be used for nuclear proliferation, according to a decision by the Swiss cabinet on Wednesday. The funding of certain goods used by oil and…

Swiss Politics

Ben Ali and Gbagbo assets blocked

This content was published on Jan 19, 2011 This year’s Swiss president, Micheline Calmy-Rey, announced on Wednesday that the money of the two African leaders and people close to them would be blocked, with immediate effect. In a statement, the cabinet said it did not want Switzerland to be a refuge for assets that may have been “acquired illegally” and could serve Gbagbo.…

Swiss Politics

Ex army-officers back anti-gun move

This content was published on Jan 18, 2011 The former majors and lieutenant-colonels told a news conference that the proposal did not undermine the Swiss militia army but helped reduce the risk of gun violence and gun thefts. The group rejected allegations that it wants to abolish the army. Members say they represented a “considerable number of officers and former officers”, but refused…

Swiss Politics

US Army struggles to lower soldier suicides

This content was published on Jan 18, 2011 Despite efforts by the US to strengthen its suicide prevention programmes, the number of suicides by both active and non-active duty soldiers continues to climb. In the first 11 months of 2010, there were a total of 272 such suicides. While figures for December have not been included, the number has already surpassed that of…

Swiss Politics

Greens campaign on anti-nuclear ticket

This content was published on Jan 18, 2011 The fight against new nuclear power plants had historically been part and parcel of the party’s political identity, president Ueli Leuenberger said. He said parliament would take important decisions on the future of nuclear energy in Switzerland during the next four-year term as the major energy companies have applied for the construction of two new…

Swiss Politics

Swiss WTO delegate looks to Doha revival

This content was published on Jan 18, 2011 In an interview with swissinfo.ch, Luzius Wasescha, head of the Swiss delegation to the World Trade Organization, says the “unspectacular” but “very important” WTO offices in Geneva are where the heavy lifting happens. “We address the details to have all the elements on hand for new texts – new bases for negotiation – to come…

Swiss Politics

Hope for thaw in Swiss-Tunisian ties

This content was published on Jan 17, 2011 Former Swiss cabinet minister Samuel Schmid – himself subjected to Tunisian censorship for remarks on civil liberties during a world summit – told swissinfo.ch: “It naturally wasn’t an open and completely amicable relationship. I hope that will change now.” Schmid’s criticism of authoritarian regimes catapulted Swiss-Tunisian bilateral relations to an all-time low after the World…

Swiss Politics

Tunisia in transition

This content was published on Jan 17, 2011 After weeks of unrest at the start of 2011, deposed president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali flees to Saudi Arabia and the country takes on a new unity government. (Photos: AFP, Keystone)

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Freezing of presidential accounts welcomed

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Swiss freeze Tunisian accounts

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Swiss impose tougher sanctions on Iran

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Ben Ali and Gbagbo assets blocked

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Ex army-officers back anti-gun move

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US Army struggles to lower soldier suicides

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Greens campaign on anti-nuclear ticket

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Swiss WTO delegate looks to Doha revival

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Hope for thaw in Swiss-Tunisian ties

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Tunisia in transition

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