Swiss Politics

Transparency law unknown and underused

This content was published on Jul 2, 2009 Speaking this week they said there have been just 565 requests for access to unreleased official information since the law on transparency was introduced in 2006. The figure pales in comparison to Britain, which has around 100,000 requests a year using similar legislation, and the United States, where there are millions. Use is even low…

Swiss Politics

New abduction law reinforces children’s rights

This content was published on Jul 1, 2009 Each year, Swiss authorities handle up to 200 cases of international child abduction, where children are caught in a tug-of-love wrangle between separated parents, usually of different nationalities. In 2008, 73 per cent of the time it was the mother who carried out the abduction. On Wednesday, a new Swiss law concerning the international abduction…

Swiss Politics

Geneva hosts new round of Georgia-Russia talks

This content was published on Jul 1, 2009 The talks, aimed at finding an accord on security arrangements, were the sixth since armed forces from the two sides clashed over the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia last August. Pierre Morel, one of the co-chairman of the meeting, told a media conference afterwards that the talks had sometimes been “difficult, without being dramatic,”…

Swiss Politics

More cost cutting to reduce health spending

This content was published on Jul 1, 2009 They include a new price structure for generics as well as lowering rebates for excess payments of insurance takers, and are due to come into force gradually by the beginning of next year. The measures aim to cut spending by about SFr400 million ($370.3 million) and to help health insurance companies to calculate premiums for…

Swiss Politics

Iranian ambassador summoned

This content was published on Jul 1, 2009 A foreign ministry spokesman said Switzerland reminded Iran that it should respect freedom of expression and assembly, and said it was concerned about acts of violence. The spokesman said Bern was considering suspending its human rights dialogue with Tehran. Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey called on the Iranian government last week to act with restraint when…

Government sets date for minaret ballot

This content was published on Jul 1, 2009 Two other issues, including a ban on the export of war material, will also be put to a nationwide vote the same day, according to a statement by the Federal Chancellery on Wednesday. In a recent interview with swissinfo.ch, Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said she hoped emotional factors would not influence the debate in the…

Swiss Politics

Geneva hosts new round of Georgia-Russia talks

This content was published on Jul 1, 2009 Wednesday’s talks are the sixth since armed forces from the two sides clashed over the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia last August. Just two days before the talks began, Russia started its biggest military exercises involving 8,500 troops in the Caucasus since the conflict. The talks also come one day after the expiry of…

Swiss Politics

Serbia agrees to new migration and visa rules

This content was published on Jun 30, 2009 Swiss Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf and Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic signed a readmission agreement and another that will facilitate the process of issuing visas. They also agreed to a statement of intent to partner on migration and police cooperation. In a statement, the Swiss justice ministry said the new readmission agreement requires both sides…

Swiss Politics

Officials welcome Kyrgyz prime minister

This content was published on Jun 30, 2009 In a written statement, the finance ministry described the meeting between Merz, who also holds the finance portfolio, and Igor Chudinov, an ethnic Russian, as “friendly and constructive”. The two discussed issues including bilateral relations, the financial crisis and development cooperation. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) operates in the central Asian country.…

Swiss Politics

Diplomat predicts Honduras coup will fail

This content was published on Jun 30, 2009 Walter Suter, former Swiss ambassador to Venezuela, told swissinfo.ch that the first military putsch in Central America since the Cold War was also unlikely to endanger democracies in other parts of Latin America. On Tuesday Honduras’ interim government battled against a tide of international support for Zelaya, who vowed to return home in two days…

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