Swiss Politics

Working poor down over the decade

This content was published on Apr 21, 2009 The Federal Statistics Office on Tuesday attributed the decrease to a favourable economy during that period and a declining unemployment rate, adding that the rate was not an immediate indicator of the economic climate. The rate among women stood at 4.1 per cent, authorities said, while 4.6 per cent of men were classified as working…

Swiss Politics

Alternative medicine opponents call for debate

This content was published on Apr 21, 2009 The small committee say a yes vote to plans to promote the use of alternative medicines would trigger further demand for non-conventional therapies and lead to additional costs for the health system. All treatments had to be effective, appropriate and reasonably priced, they told a news conference on Tuesday. Other opponents include the rightwing Swiss…

Swiss Politics

Fight against racism “undermined” by boycott

This content was published on Apr 21, 2009 Doudou Diène, the former UN special rapporteur on racism, tells swissinfo countries boycotting the conference are playing into the hands of racists. Diène was actively involved in preparing the conference. swissinfo: What is your interpretation of the provocative speech by the Iranian president? Doudou Diène: On the one hand, there was a provocative aspect to…

Swiss Politics

Swiss deplore “excessive” reaction to Iran talks

This content was published on Apr 21, 2009 It follows Israel’s decision on Monday to recall its ambassador to Bern, Ilan Elgar, for “consultations” following the meeting of the heads of state ahead of the United Nations racism conference in Geneva. “The foreign ministry has received confirmation of the recall of the Israeli ambassador to Switzerland,” it said in a statement. “The ministry…

Swiss Politics

Ahmadinejad sparks walkout in Geneva

This content was published on Apr 20, 2009 Ahmadinejad’s appearance has overshadowed the substance of the weeklong United Nations racism conference, dubbed Durban II, which aims to provide a blueprint for combating intolerance and discrimination worldwide. Durban II, which runs until Friday, is the sequel to a divisive 2001 gathering in Durban, South Africa, and will not include Barack Obama, the first black…

Swiss Politics

Contentious UN racism meeting begins in Geneva

This content was published on Apr 20, 2009 The four-day meeting in the Swiss city of Geneva is the sequel to a divisive 2001 gathering in Durban, South Africa, and will not include Barack Obama, the first black president of the United States. The US, along with Canada, Israel, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Germany pulled out of the UN’s second…

Swiss Politics

More western countries shun Geneva conference

This content was published on Apr 19, 2009 The Obama administration on Saturday said it would “with regret” boycott the conference over objectionable language in the meeting’s final document that could single out Israel for criticism and restrict free speech. On Sunday, Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen said in a strongly worded statement that some countries were planning to use the summit as…

Swiss Politics

Swiss offer support in US-Iran dialogue

This content was published on Apr 19, 2009 But in a written interview with swissinfo, she cautions that any rapprochement between Washington and Tehran will take time. Leu Agosti, who has been in her post since the beginning of the year, voices concerns over Iran’s difficult human rights situation. She says she remains convinced that dialogue with the Iranian authorities is the best…

Swiss Politics

Calmy-Rey wraps up West Africa trip

This content was published on Apr 18, 2009 Calmy-Rey visited an agricultural development project funded by Switzerland near the capital, Ouagadougou, after meeting with Burkina Faso’s president, Blaise Compaoré, on Friday evening. The foreign minister also visited Nigeria and Mali on her trip. Mali and Burkina Faso are on the list of so-called “priority countries” by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland to attend UN racism summit

This content was published on Apr 18, 2009 Officials said the composition of the delegation would be announced later on, leaving open the question of whether or not Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey would attend the opening of the Durban Review Conference. The meeting is a follow-up to the controversial World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South…

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