Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey seeks Gaddafi meeting for Merz

This content was published on Jun 24, 2009 The aim is to clear the air between the two countries. Relations have been strained since Gaddafi’s son and his wife were arrested in Geneva last July and charged with assaulting two domestic employees. Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey revealed the behind the scenes efforts to set up a meeting in a meeting with journalists.…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland and Germany bury the hatchet

This content was published on Jun 23, 2009 Hans-Rudolf Merz, who in addition to holding the finance portfolio is also this year’s Swiss president, had talks and a private dinner with Peer Steinbrück in Berlin on Monday, at which he assured the German side that Switzerland was ready to provide assistance on tax evasion cases. The talks came on the eve of a…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland concerned about Iranian situation

This content was published on Jun 23, 2009 Speaking to journalists in Bern on Tuesday she said freedom of expression must be maintained and urged Tehran to check complaints about alleged irregularities in the June 12 presidential elections. The minister said Switzerland had been in contact with the Iranian authorities via diplomatic channels, but had refrained from making public statements until now. “We…

Swiss Politics

Swiss gas consumers protected from shortfalls

This content was published on Jun 23, 2009 The agreement, in the form of an exchange of letters between Swiss Environment Minister Moritz Leuenberger and his French counterpart, Jean-Louis Borloo, means that French customers will no longer have privileged access to the emergency gas supplies stored underground. Since Switzerland’s geology is not suitable for underground gas storage, it has a share in storage…

Swiss Politics

Minister defends Swiss tax cooperation policy

This content was published on Jun 23, 2009 He said that Switzerland had already renegotiated six agreements on double taxation since March, when the government revised its position on providing information to foreign countries about suspected tax cheats. There is no reason to doubt Switzerland’s integrity, he said. Switzerland wants a transparent monitoring process, based on objective and jointly-determined criteria in the implementation…

Swiss Politics

Men still earn a quarter more than women

This content was published on Jun 23, 2009 The authorities, as well as employers’ representatives and unions, have joined together for the first time to begin discussions aimed at stamping out discriminatory practices over the next five years. The concept of equal pay has been written in the law since 1996, and has been in the Swiss constitution since 1981. But those working…

Swiss Politics

Merz and Steinbrück agree to tax negotiations

This content was published on Jun 23, 2009 The talks on Monday evening came on the eve of an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) anti-tax haven conference in Berlin. Merz informed the Germans that Switzerland would comply with Article 26 of the OECD Model Tax Convention. This means Switzerland will provide assistance on tax evasion cases. Switzerland wants to seal double…

Swiss Politics

Unions promote short-time work

This content was published on Jun 22, 2009 The Swiss Trade Union Federation, which represents about 380,000 employees in 16 different sectors, said that short-time work was a viable option to prevent collective dismissals. The federation urged the authorities to extend the period of short-time work, where employees agree to work fewer hours than usual, from 18 months to 24 months. Companies which…

Swiss Politics

Mother tongue of new minister divides Swiss

This content was published on Jun 21, 2009 The results of a survey found a majority of German speakers saying language is not an issue when choosing a successor to French-speaking Couchepin, while Swiss French and Swiss Italians beg to differ. The findings were published in three Sunday newspapers, SonntagsBlick, Le Matin Dimanche and Il Caffè – one in each of Switzerland’s main…

Swiss Politics

Human Rights body finds itself on shaky ground

This content was published on Jun 21, 2009 Diplomats and non-governmental organisations have expressed concern over efforts by some states, including Cuba, China and Brazil, to muzzle independent reporting. An open letter was addressed to the Council on June 11 by 35 organisations including Amnesty International (AI) and Human Rights Watch (HRW). “We are witnessing an aggressive strategy against the Council’s mandate, through…

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Calmy-Rey seeks Gaddafi meeting for Merz

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Switzerland and Germany bury the hatchet

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Switzerland concerned about Iranian situation

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Swiss gas consumers protected from shortfalls

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Minister defends Swiss tax cooperation policy

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Men still earn a quarter more than women

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Merz and Steinbrück agree to tax negotiations

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Unions promote short-time work

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Mother tongue of new minister divides Swiss

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Human Rights body finds itself on shaky ground

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