FIFA: Headquarters in Zurich and Image Problems the Swiss
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THE MAGAZINE FOR THE SWISS ABROAD APRIL 2012 / NO.2 FIFA: headquarters in Zurich Immerand image mehr Arme problems in der reichen Schweiz The Swiss National Bank and politiciansEin lebendiges Museum füR Gross und Klein A Valais-born director and his Gemeinsame Visapolitik dankfilm Schengen about pilgrims in Nepal ORGANISATION OF THE SWISS ABROAD “The SwissCommunity platform networks Swiss people worldwide via the web.” Ursula Deplazes Researcher from Graubünden, living in Rome “Networking plays an important role among the Swiss abroad – both personally and profes- sionally.” Daniel Keller Manager from Zurich, living in Hanoi “The local experience Urs Steiner of Swiss people can Teacher from Berne, head be very valuable to an of the Swiss School in Peru international consultant like me.” “Get to know other Swiss people abroad, exchange useful addresses, find out about Switzerland … I can do all these things on SwissCommunity.” Network with other Swiss abroad Keep up to date on relevant news and events Find an apartment – or the best fondue in town Discover Switzerland Sign up for free membership www.swisscommunity.org SwissCommunity partners EDITORIAL cOnTEnTs 3 The Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Swiss abroad ederal councillor didier burkhalter gave one of his first interviews since 5 his move to the Department of Foreign Affairs at the start of the yeaR to “Swiss Re- Mailbag Fview”. By doing so, the new Minister of Foreign Affairs gave a clear indication that 5 the Swiss abroad, whose numbers are growing all the time, are important to him. Federal Books: A close look at development aid Councillor Burkhaltertold us in the interview that he really lovesdiscovering new 7 countries and has a “good feel for differences”. He says that he wants to gain a better Images: understanding of the issues and problems facing his over 700,000 compatriots abroad. The 1950s – photographs and analyses His position on the new law being called for with regard to the Swiss abroad is already 8 clear. He supports it unreservedly and believes such a law would establish “the founda- FIFA – headquartered in Zurich, rich and tions for an integral policy on the Swiss abroad”. This is extremely welcome news non-transparent for Swiss people living outside Switzerland. The Swiss abroad will also have the oppor- 12 tunity to meet Federal Councillor Burkhalter in person at the Congress of the Swiss An interview with the new Minister of Abroad in Lausanne in August. Foreign Affairs The main article in this issue concerns FIFA, world football’s governing body. FIFA is 14 often very directly associated with Switzerland, partly because it is led by Sepp Blatter, How the Hildebrand affair unfolded who is Swiss, and partly because it has been based in Zurich for decades. This is 16 detrimental to our nation in light of the conduct of many FIFA officials. The federation’s Closer to home with e-voting financial affairs – it generates billions in revenues, provides hardly any services, pays Regional news very little tax and is seen as a sanctuary for corruption – are increasingly coming in for criticism from Swiss politicians. An anti-corruption campaign launched by FIFA last November has 17 failed to prove convincing. Referenda While this issue was going to print, a highly contentious debate 18 was taking place in Switzerland over the procurement of new Conflict of interests over the Swiss asylum fighter jets for the armed forces. The complaint raised is that system the Federal Council, in particular Ueli Maurer as head of the 19 Barbara Engel Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), The Swiss banks would manage comfortably overlooked negative evaluation reports when selecting the Swedish Gripen aircraft. without illicit earnings The fighter jets were denounced as “cheap”, their quality and capabilities doubted. The 20 question as to whether the aircraft ordered in November are “optimal” for Switzerland, 50 years of press photography as the DDPS claims, or unfit for purpose, as critics argue, is bound to remain a topic 22 of debate for some time yet. “Swiss Review” will take a more in-depth look at the subject A journey with a Hindu pilgrim in Nepal of the Swiss armed forces in a later issue. However, we will not just examine one contro- 25 versial decision but will instead consider the army and its objectives and challenges in the OSA news 21st century in broader terms. 28 I would finally like to urge you to sign our petition to the Federal Council for e-voting Notes from Parliament to be introduced as quickly as possible. Being able to vote via the Internet is extremely 30 important for Swiss citizens abroad (details on page 16) BARBARA ENgEL Little gems Cover page: FIFA President Sepp Blatter after his re-election last June at Zurich’s Hallenstadion. Photo: Alessandro Della Bella / Keystone IMPRINT: “Swiss Review”, the magazine for the Swiss abroad, is in its 39th year of publication and is published in german, French, Italian, English and Spanish in 14 regional editions. It . 2 has a total circulation of 395000, including 135000 electronic copies. Regional news appears four times a year. No / The ordering parties are fully responsible for the content of advertisements and promotional inserts. These contents do not necessarily represent the opinion of either the editorial office or 12 the publisher. n EDITORS: Barbara Engel (BE), Editor-in-Chief; René Lenzin (RL); Alain wey (Aw); Marc Lettau (MUL); Manuel gnos (MAg); Jean-François Lichtenstern (JFL), responsible for “Notes from April 20 Parliament”, Service for the Swiss Abroad, FDFA, CH-3003 Berne Translation: CLS Communication Ag n LAYOUT: Herzog Design, Zurich n POSTAL ADDRESS: Publisher, editorial office, advertising: Organisation of the Swiss Abroad, Alpenstrasse 26, CH-3006 Berne, Tel.: +41 31 356 61 10, Fax: +41 31 356 61 01, Postal account (Swiss National giro): 30-6768-9. n E-MAIL: [email protected] n PRINT: Swissprinters St.gallen Ag, CH-9001 St.gallen. n CHANgE OF ADDRESS: Please advise your local embassy or consulate. Do not write to Berne. n All Swiss abroad who are registered with a Swiss representation receive the magazine free of charge. Anyone else can subscribe to the magazine for an annual fee (Switzerland: CHF 30 / abroad: CHF 50). ISS REvIEw Subscribers are sent the magazine direct from Berne. n INTERNET: www.revue.chCopy deadline for this edition: 13.02.12 Sw Protect your interests, vote in Switzerland! www.aso.ch Leave a lasting legacy behind Do something for our compatriots abroad Vorsorgen in Schweizer Franken. A legacy or bequest allows you to leave instructions on the disposal of your money, real estate or property*. A bequest to the OSA is an enduring reminder of your solidarity with our compatriots abroad. The Organisation for the Swiss Abroad uses all such funds to assist Swiss Abroad in accordance with the testator’s instructions. *To do this you need to draw up a will. The OSA offers an informative, easy-to-understand Agentur Auslandschweizer brochure on how to draw up a will: Contact the OSA Legal Service, "Rechtsdienst der ASO", Stefan Böni Alpenstrasse 26, CH-3006 Berne or e-mail [email protected] Dorfstrasse 140, 8706 Meilen +41 44 925 39 39, www.swisslife.ch/aso Help us to help you! Inserat_Midi_Stefan Böni_90x64.5.indd 1 01.12.2010 14:26:28 We‘ll take you to Switzerland at the click of a mouse. Information. News. Background reports. Analysis. From Switzerland, about Switzerland. Multimedia, interactive and up to date in 9 languages. swissinfo.ch mailbag books 5 Democratic voting? strike action, like at the last those who travel extensively have many tales to tell. This is I wonder whether electronic elections. Brazil should sign the certainly true of the five Swiss women and seven Swiss men voting, even though very prac- Wassenaar Arrangement so who report on their humanitarian aid work in the anthology tical, really allows us to main- that the Swiss in Brazil can “Die andere Seite der Welt” (The Other Side of the World). tain a system of free and demo- vote via the Internet. The Some were involved in emergency relief aid, some in develop- cratic voting or, in other words, FDFA should make a request ment aid, and others in both. They all share a desire to help voting without manipulation to Itamaraty, the Ministry of combined with a spirit of adventure. The third key quality they and outside influence? My Foreign Affairs. possess is the ability to negotiate in foreign cultures. question arises after the recent HERBERT HIRSCHI, BRAZIL Lengthy interviews have produced recollections and obser- holding of the first free elec- vations in the first person, often about perilous situations, tions in Tunisia where this is- Well done even if sometimes “only” on journalistic assignments (Al Im- sue was raised. Dear editorial team, many feld before his time as a development missionary, Andrea AMEL CHEIKHROUHOU, members of our club have said König after working for the ICRC). Just under half of the por- ENNASR, TUNISIA that “Swiss Review” is now traits are about former ICRC delegates. Naturally, these Red much more modern, interest- Desire to helpCross and adventure deployments often involved trouble spots. The inter- Fitting for the 21st century ing and outward-looking. A views are part of an “oral history” project but they are presented un- I believe that Internet voting is particularly critical Swiss lady, critically and only with the necessary supplementary information. an ideal solution for the Swiss who was previously a writer Besides their adventures, this easy-to-read book, which is also abroad. We are in the 21st cen- herself and is not a member of suitable for young people, also provides great insight into the moti- tury! Depending on the cir- the club, also says that she now vation of the workers, their approach and their relationship with lo- cumstances, it is difficult to really enjoys reading “Swiss cal people and the head office in Switzerland.