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Swiss Politics

Ticino wary despite boon of EU labour deal

This content was published on Feb 2, 2009 But voters remain wary of closer ties with the EU as Ticino’s economy is exposed to strong competition from neighbouring northern Italy. A majority of the electorate in southern Switzerland is likely to reject the continuation and extension of a labour accord with the EU in a nationwide vote on February 8. Pressure on salaries…

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Marty calls for collective responsibility on Guantánamo

This content was published on Feb 1, 2009 The Swiss senator told swissinfo that the “illegal prison” on the Cuban island was a sign of an arbitrary and inefficient policy against terrorism. Marty said the international community needed to find a humanitarian solution for the camp’s inmates. The US has come under heavy pressure from Europe to close the prison and while European…

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Leuthard says bank wage gap is “too large”

This content was published on Jan 31, 2009 “For me, it is clear that the wage gap between the banking sector and other sectors has become too large,” Leuthard told the Berner Zeitung newspaper on Saturday. “Bankers’ wages must fall, that is clear for me.” Her comments come after UBS announced a SFr2 billion ($1.72 billion) bonus package for its employees despite losing…

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Human rights in Switzerland fail to impress

This content was published on Jan 31, 2009 The criticism was levelled at a meeting in Bern this week involving the Swiss foreign ministry, the United Nations and advocacy groups including Amnesty International. “People still think Switzerland is perfect,” said Daniel Bolomey, secretary general of Amnesty International Switzerland. “OK, it’s not bad, but we have problems with racism and attitudes toward immigration and…

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Iraq faces test-case provincial election

This content was published on Jan 30, 2009 The election – the first since 2005 – will measure the popularity of Iraq’s main coalitions and set the tone for parliamentary elections in late 2009 as US forces stand poised to withdraw from the country. Holding the ballot is seen as an important sign that Iraq has emerged from the worst of the violence…

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Swiss tackle protectionism at Davos meeting

This content was published on Jan 30, 2009 Leuthard was speaking to swissinfo in Davos, where she has been attending the World Economic Forum’s annual summit. On Saturday she meets representatives of more than 20 countries on the sidelines of the WEF to convince them that free trade is one solution to the economic downturn. The meeting will focus on this year’s agenda…

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Swiss Politics

Activist warns of Sri Lanka “massacres”

This content was published on Jan 30, 2009 Sri Lankan troops are battling to finish one of Asia’s longest wars, having won a series of major battles and swiftly encircled the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the northeast of the Indian Ocean island. Sri Lanka’s president urged the rebels on Friday to allow the estimated 250,000 civilians trapped in the northern…

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Swiss Politics

Money matters top Merz’s bilateral talks

This content was published on Jan 30, 2009 Merz told Mexican President Felipe Calderón that Switzerland, as a major financial centre, would be prepared to provide assistance in resolving the crisis and actively engage in adapting international financial structures. The leaders said they were happy with a double taxation agreement signed last year and discussed the Free Trade Agreement concluded between EFTA (the…

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Swiss Politics

WEF criticised for “inappropriate” Gaza debate

This content was published on Jan 29, 2009 The debate on Thursday sparked controversy after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan walked off the stage over a disagreement with Israeli President Shimon Peres about fighting in Gaza. The Palestinian representative to Bern issued a statement on Friday saying they were “appalled” and found it “inappropriate and partial” that an important panel was held…

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Militarisation does not solve problems, Putin says

This content was published on Jan 28, 2009 Putin, who presided over a big increase in Russia’s defence budgets in his previous post as president, told the World Economic Forum (WEF) that Russia was “against spending more money on military efforts”. Putin also described the global financial crisis as a “perfect storm” whose destructive powers were multiplied. Putin refrained from blaming the United…

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