THE MAGAZINE FOR THE SWISS ABROAD

OCTOBER 2006 / NO. 5

St. Gotthard: A legendary mountain

How much patriotism does a democracy need?

Tanja Frieden: Living for fun sports EDITORIAL CONTENTS 3

In support of “patriotism light” 5 ANY SWISS MEN AND WOMEN often have an uncertain, somewhat masochistic Mailbag attitude towards their homeland. The British, French, Italians and even the Americans behave very differently. In contrast to the Swiss, they have always 5 M Books: The Jeanmaire case been proud of their home country. And yet some Swiss often seem almost embarrassed about their origins. 7 I recall radio programmes on August 1st and reports by foreign correspondents who Images: Small Number – Big Impact had been asked to find out how was perceived by people in their host coun- try. The Swiss always feel the need to know what others think about them. That’s why 8 St.Gotthard – the legendary mountain tricky referenda are frequently preceded by dire warnings that the outcome will affect Switzerland’s image abroad. The French wouldn’t care less, nor would the British. Any- 11 one who consumes foreign media quickly discovers that few people beyond our borders Voting are interested in domestic Swiss policy – perhaps unjustly so. It’s also fashionable here to overlook the fact that Switzerland enjoys an outstand- 12 Official DFA information ing image throughout the world, and that the alleged land of milk and honey is often even presented too perfectly. Is it insecurity that blinds us to certain realities? Why do we feel inclined time and again to hide our light under a bushel although there is no reason to do so? Fortunately, the mood has changed in our country in recent years. As I mentioned in my last editorial, the white cross on a red background has long attained cult status in all segments of our society. It’s now cool to be Swiss, especially among young people. Kurt Imhof, a sociologist from Zurich University, has spent years studying patriot- ism and related issues, particularly vis-à-vis the situation in Switzerland. We discussed the definition of “love of one’s homeland” with him, its necessity and the dangers inher- ent in misguided patriotism. During the interview, Professor Imhof reminded us that the student movement of ’68 is largely to blame for bringing the state into disrepute. It painted Tanja Frieden, Olympic boardercross champion a picture of an exploitative nation, and pilloried it as the ugly face of capitalism and the bourgeoisie. The political left was still preventing the Swiss getting to grips with the concept of “homeland” as late at the 1980s, since Regional news for leftist sentiments Switzerland was synonymous with immoral

and incorrect political action. Intellectuals in particular were at log- 14 gerheads with Switzerland. Indeed, writer Max Frisch’s statement How much patriotism does a democracy need? that “My only link with my homeland is my passport” was more or less the acceptable position. 16 Even the FDP, the country’s one-time standard-bearer together OSA news Heinz Eckert with the SP, campaigned under the slogan “More freedom, less state”. Those days are gone. Ever since the world became a global village, 18 the nation state has been gaining in popularity and people have once more been allowed Portrait: Tanja Frieden, Olympic boardercross champion to express warm feelings about their homeland. Imhof therefore calls for what he terms

“patriotism light”: a form of patriotism free of religious, political and ideological conno- 19 tations. We can and may be proud of our country’s achievements and institutions, Imhof News in brief says. He also cites the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), a well-functioning public service, the solid welfare state and direct democracy, describing them as masterpieces borne of Cover photo: Tunnellers celebrate the first generations of work. breakthrough for the new In the light of this, there really are plenty of reasons to be proud of Switzerland. east tunnel through the Gotthard on 6 September 2006. HEINZ ECKERT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Photo: Keystone

IMPRINT: “Swiss Review”, the magazine for the Swiss Abroad, is in its 33rd year of publication and is published in German, French, Italian, English and Spanish in 21 regional editions.

5 October 2006 / No. It has a total circulation of over 390 000. Regional news appears four times a year. ■ EDITORSHIP: Heinz Eckert (EC), Editor-in-Chief; Rolf Ribi (RR), Alain Wey (AW), Gabriela Brodbeck (BDK), responsible for DFA information pages, Service for the Swiss Abroad DFA, CH-3003 Berne. René Lenzin (RL), reporting from parliament. Translation: CLS Communication AG ■ POSTAL ADDRESS: Publisher, editorial office, advertising: Organisation of the Swiss Abroad, Alpenstrasse 26, CH-3006 Berne, Tel. +4131356 6110, Fax +4131356 61 01, Postal account (Swiss National Giro) 30-6768-9. Internet: www.revue.ch ■ E-MAIL: [email protected]

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THE MAGAZINE FOR THE SWISS ABROAD pleasure reading. The articles In the late 1970s, Switzerland was gripped by the “betrayal are highly topical, very interest- of the century”. In August 1976, Brigadier General Jean-Louis ing, well-presented and written Jeanmaire, the then commander of Switzerland’s air de- AUGUST 2006 / NO. 4 with a rare intelligence for this fences, was arrested on the streets of Lausanne. The allega- type of publication. Well done. tions against him: military espionage and handing over mil- However, permit me to draw itary secrets. It was claimed that the one-star general had your attention to a minor error been passing military documents to Russian military attachés that crept into your August since the early 1960s. Given that the Cold War was in full edition. Gerhard Richter is cer- swing at the time, this case of alleged treason provoked out- tainly one of the great painters rage in public and the media. The professional soldier was

Which energy will be best of our time, but although he tried and convicted by a top-secret military court in June for Switzerland? – A fresh face certainly uses photography in 1977, stripped of his rank, kicked out of the army, and sen- on the Federal Council

50 years after the fi rst Swiss conquest of Mount Everest his work, he is not at all what tenced to 18 years in prison, of which he served 12. Jean- one would call an “artistic maire died in 1992 at the age of 81.

photographer”. Many thanks «Traitor» The Jeanmaire case still rumbles on to this day. A recent Raptures in red-and-white once again for all your work for book takes a close look at the affair, the conclusiveness of the ev- Editor-in-Chief Heinz Eckert the Swiss abroad. idence, the military tribunal and the officer himself. The author, made an error in his excellent MARTIN BAENNINGER, WESTMOUNT, Jürg Schoch, had reported on the affair from the Federal Parlia- editorial, which we needn’t QUEBEC, CANADA ment at the time the story broke. He has since been granted access therefore agree with wholesale. to the case files in the national archives. Almost 30 years after Jean- He describes “La Suisse n’existe Beautiful Lavaux maire’s conviction, many questions remain unanswered: Did he re- pas” (“Switzerland doesn’t ex- Thank you for your excellent ally betray his country to the Soviet Union? Was he tried and con- ist”) as a slogan which Switzer- article in your June 2006 issue victed in accordance with the correct legal procedures? And why land used to draw attention to of the “Swiss Review” on was his sentence so harsh? itself in the 1990s. In fact, Lavaux. I was delighted to read On 7 October 1976, Federal Councillor spoke in par- “Suiza no existe” is a painting that Lavaux may soon become a liament about “the betrayal of the most secret of documents”, and by Ben Vautier, an artist from UNESCO World Heritage site. called the officer a traitor before he had even been tried. When it the Vaud, which was exhibited I have travelled in many coun- was published, the list of accusations ran to 35 counts. The only alongside more than 100 other tries but believe that Lavaux is document classified “secret” was one containing the regulations artworks in the Swiss pavilion the most beautiful place in the for military mobilisation – of which there were thousands of cop- at the world fair in Seville in world, thanks to its exceptional ies. Corps commander Josef Feldmann later discovered that Jean- 1992, a pavilion that the Federal landscape and to all the hard- maire had “never had access to strictly confidential files”. Council had decided to dedi- working vignerons who have Basic legal principles were repeatedly breached. In violation of cate to Swiss culture. Vautier toiled in the vineyards for gen- the Human Rights Convention, Jeanmaire had no contact whatso- simply wanted to say that there erations to keep it that way. ever with the outside world for 170 days after his arrest. As the Fed- was no Swiss culture per se, but One important correction: eral Prosecutor was subsequently forced to admit, there was no ev- rather a series of local and re- the vineyards of Lavaux are idence against him at the time of his arrest. During the investigation, gional cultures in our country. at the foot of the Alps on the the Federal Prosecutor regularly reported to Federal Councillor Fur- Although it was heavily criti- shore of Lake Leman and not gler in contravention of state authority. And the prosecutor and cised by certain conservative Lake . Any self-respect- the judge discussed the case, thereby preventing the officer get- groups in Switzerland, the ing Vaudois or Vaudoise would ting a fair trial. The sentence of 18 years was only two years short pavilion gained international never call it anything else. of the maximum permissible. But the people, acclaim and was described as CLEO BOLENS DIBBLE, A VAUDOISE most politicians, the officers and the media all very promising for the future. WHO NOW LIVES IN WASHINGTON, demanded he atone for “betraying his country”. People tend to forget the exist- USA The tough sentence was also meant to show for- ence of a second picture by Ben eign intelligence services that Switzerland had Vautier in the Swiss pavilion in Thank you its own defences under control again. Politically Seville. Its title: “Je pense donc As echoed by many others, I naïve Jeanmaire passed on a secret document je suis Suisse” (“I think, there- would like to add my thanks to and confidential files; for that he had to be pun- fore I am Swiss”). you and your staff for an excel- ished. The author of the book is convinced that PHILIPPE LÉVY, FORMER CEO, lent “Swiss Review”. I read it the officer could not possibly have had a fair trial MESSE BASEL from cover to cover each time in the hyped-up atmosphere of the time. “Jeanmaire was both per- and feel very connected to what petrator and victim”, Schoch says. ROLF RIBI Minor error is happening in Switzerland. It 5 October 2006 / No. I’d like to start by congratulat- keeps the Swiss part of me very Jürg Schoch: “Fall Jeanmaire, Fall Schweiz. Wie Politik und Medien einen ‘Jahr- hundertverräter’ fabrizierten” (The case against Jeanmaire and Switzerland. How ing you for your excellent mag- alive! Thank you! politicians and the media fabricated the “betrayal of the century”). Published by

SWISS REVIEW azine, which I always have great JEANNY KARTH, SOUTH AFRICA Hier und Jetzt , Baden 2006, CHF 38, EUR 24.80 IMAGES 7

Small Number – Big Impact Hundreds of thousands of Swiss have emigrated to the USA since the early 18th Century. As the book “Small Number – Big Impact” by Bruno Abegg and Barbara Lüthi shows, some had a lasting impact on their adopted home. The photographs and biographies document the motives behind the immig- ration, travels, integration and influence of these Swiss-Americans. The book is published in English by the NZZ-Buchverlag and costs CHF 68.

Louis Chevrolet, automobile constructor Fritz Zwicky, scientist

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, psychiatrist specialising in death and dying Othmar H. Ammann, bridge builder 5 October 2006 / No.

SWISS REVIEW Photos the from book “Small Number – Big Impact” Yule Kilcher, adventurer Marc Forster, Hollywood director A family of Swiss émigrés 8 ROYAL MOUNTAINS

St.Gotthard – the legendary mountain out of small mountain lakes only a few Neither the Matterhorn, the Jungfrau or the Pilatus is Switzer- steps apart: the Reuss and the Ticino. The Gotthard Massif is also a weather divide. land’s mountain of mountains. That honour goes to St.Gotthard, When it rains in the north, the south mostly for it is here that Switzerland was allegedly founded and where has a northerly wind and perfect weather. it built its masterpieces. By Rolf Ribi And when the warm Föhn wind blows in the north, it often rains for days on end in the Ticino.

Every schoolchild knows the legend of the and this gets its name from a bishop to whom The road over the pass construction of the Teufelsbrücke, and how the hospice chapel was dedicated in the 13th Until the 12th Century, the Schöllenen the people of Uri outwitted the devil. Many Century. The altarpiece shows St.Gotthard. Gorge blocked the way to St.Gotthard. It know the “St.Gotthard Mail Coach” paint- “St.Gotthard may not be the highest moun- was only with the construction of the ing by Rudolf Koller, which hangs in Zurich’s tain range in Switzerland, and Mont Blanc Kunsthaus. Old men and women remember in Savoy easily outranks it in terms of size,” the military fort on St.Gotthard from wrote Johann Wolfgang Goethe in his ‘Let- the Second World War. Some people see ters from Switzerland’ in 1799. “Yet it alone the birth of their nation reflected in the free- has the status of a royal range because it is dom-loving shepherds of the point where the larg- St.Gotthard. And all Swiss est mountain ranges meet.” are proud of engineering Indeed, the Bernese and feats like the mountain Valais Alps converge on pass, the railway and its St.Gotthard from the Monument to fallen miners in Airolo. helical tunnels, the motor- west, the Glarus and way and road tunnel, and Grisons Alps from the Teufelsbrücke in around 1220 that mule what will eventually be the east. To the north and trains began transporting goods all the way world’s longest railway tun- south, the Reuss and Ti- to Lombardy. However, the dangerous path nel. cino rivers have gouged remained mainly a local connection between deep valleys in the rock. the two valleys until the 1500s. Mule trains “Royal mountains” St.Gotthard is a Euro- took seven days to travel from Flüelen to Firstly, St.Gotthard is a pean watershed. Four ma- Bellinzona. In the 17th and 18th Centuries massive mountain range The legendary “St. Gotthard Mail Coach” jor rivers spring forth there was a horse-ridden mail service be- between the Reuss valley by Rudolf Koller. there: the Rhine flows to tween Zurich and Milan. The expansion of and the Leventina, or more precisely be- the North Sea, the Rhone to the Mediterra- the former mule trail into the mountain pass tween the Urseren and Bedretto valleys. Its nean, the Reuss joins the Aare and later the around 1830 transformed St.Gotthard into highest peak, Pizzo Rotondo, tops out at Rhine, and the River Ticino merges with the the most important transit route through the 3,192 metres. St.Gotthard is named after the Po before emptying into the Adriatic. Right Alps, initially by horse-drawn carriage and pass between the Hospen valley and Airolo, at the top of the pass, two lively streams flow later by the first cars.

5 October 2006 / No.

SWISS REVIEW Photos: Alptransit/Kunsthaus Zurich/ Rhyner Collection, Berne Municipal and University Library, Literis, Pro Service. Press It took almost four years of drilling...... to make the first breakthrough on 6 September 2006. 9

After the Second World War, it was in- creasingly used by holidaymakers. The con- struction of the motorway spawned the idea of a road tunnel through St.Gotthard. In 1980, after 11 years’ work, the longest road tunnel in the world at the time, consisting of a single 16.9-kilometre tunnel pipe and one service tunnel, was completed. “The tunnel is not a corridor for heavy goods vehicles,” Federal Councillor Hans Hürlimann said at the opening ceremony. “Our transport pol- A masterpiece of engineering: the seven helical tunnels of the Gotthard railway. icy focuses on goods being transported by rail both today and tomorrow.” Today we structure were very safe. “No-one need have of the Confederation,” wrote historian and know that this hope was in vain. The flood died in the tunnel if those responsible had journalist Helmut Stalder in his book ‘My- of lorries (and cars) is constantly increasing, acted correctly,” a statement said. thos Gotthard’. No-one captured the es- bringing local residents and the St.Gotthard Five years later, the St.Gotthard motor- sence of St.Gotthard’s mythical role in the route itself more problems than benefits. way was again in the headlines: Huge boul- foundation of Switzerland better than the At 9.44am on 24 October 2001, the ders broke off from the mountain near Gurt- poet Friedrich Schiller in his 1804 liberation St.Gotthard road tunnel became an inferno nellen and plunged 700 metres to the ground. drama ‘William Tell’. “St.Gotthard becomes when a northbound lorry loaded with tyres A German couple in a car was killed, many Tell’s path of destiny, the common path of collided head-on with an articulated lorry others had a narrow escape. Chunks of gran- destiny for all Switzerland,” Helmut Stalder driving in the other direction. A fire broke ite weighing up to 125 tonnes and spanning wrote. The new federal state of 1848 eagerly out and a diesel tank ex- 50 cubic metres blocked the seized upon this myth, he says. “It was easy ploded, producing blinding, motorway and cantonal to develop a national identity around choking smoke and causing road. There is no protec- St.Gotthard”, combining virtues such as the the tunnel ceiling to col- tion against such giants, the love of freedom, defensibility, fear of God lapse. Eleven people died of cantonal authorities said. and loyalty to tradition. smoke inhalation. The fire Days later, the overhanging For a century, St.Gotthard remained a in the St.Gotthard Tunnel rock head was dynamited symbol of liberty, resistance and watchful- became a national disaster away expertly while dozens ness, indeed serving as Switzerland’s God- and a pan-European event. of camera crews recorded given fortress. At least that’s what the Fed- It was the worst-case sce- the event in safety from the eral Council believed on the eve of the nario. Critics demanded other side of the valley. Second World War. “It is no coincidence that the rapid construction of a the first federal alliances were formed around second tunnel pipe and the The Schöllenen Gorge and “Devil’s National legend the Gotthard Pass. That fact was providen- eventual shifting of goods Bridge”. “The construction of the tial and crucial for the national conscious- transport onto rail. The Swiss Federal Roads Teufelsbrücke in the Schöllenen Gorge was ness of the Swiss Confederation.” Authority claimed the tunnel and its infra- considered a seminal event in the early days St.Gotthard not only symbolised self-assert- 5 October 2006 / No.

SWISS REVIEW Photos: Alptransit/Rhyner Collection, Berne Municipal and University Library, Literis, Pro Service. Press Filling with excavated material from the Gotthard in the Reuss delta near Flüelen. The major construction site at the tunnel entrance in Faido. 10 ROYAL MOUNTAINS

iveness. It also hosted the reduit national; the the tunnel and died half a year before his tres an hour, cutting travel times between alpine fortress of General Henri Guisan. At work was finished. Nor was Alfred Escher at Zurich and Milan by an hour to only two the end of the War, it was clear that the celebrations in Lucerne and Milan. The hours and 40 minutes. The near-level rail- St.Gotthard and the fortress had kept the father of the Gotthard railway was blamed way will also permit freight trains to carry enemy at bay and independence emerged for the excessive cost of the tunnel and re- more than twice as much weight as at present victorious – thanks partly to gracious good tired in bitterness. and travel at up to 160 kilometres an hour. fortune. Not only the tunnel, but the entire The new Gotthard line is part of the New Gotthard railway is a magnificent feat of en- Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA). The The rail line through St.Gotthard gineering. It includes seven helical tunnels by NRLA project to build the two tunnels un- Gotthard or Lukmanier? The row over the Wassen, Dazio Grande and the Biaschina der St.Gotthard and the Lötschberg was ap- new alpine tunnel raged for years and was Gorge that elegantly overcome height differ- proved by popular referendum in 1992 and only settled in 1871 with the foundation of ences of hundreds of metres. “The Gotthard gained planning permission in 1998. It is due the Gotthard Railway Company. The driv- railway was the Swiss Suez Canal, the tech- to be completed in 2016 at a cost of about ing force behind this was Zurich politician nical conquest of the Alps, victory over the CHF 18 billion. But even now it’s already and businessman Alfred Escher. Louis Favre vertical,” wrote Helmut Stalder. clear that the Gotthard base tunnel and its of Geneva was commissioned to build the two single-track pipes will be the crowning 14.9-kilometre tunnel, which he planned to Another engineering feat achievement of the 21st Century. complete in precisely eight years at a cost of The Gotthard is once again the site of a mon- And when the new flat line opens, what will CHF 47.8 million. umental development. The 57-kilometre happen to the old Gotthard railway, this mas- The miners began their incredibly arduous base tunnel from Erstfeld to Bodio is a tun- terpiece of engineering prowess, when in- work in September 1872, standing knee-deep nel of superlatives. It is the longest railway stead of 260 trains a day only three dozen lo- in water, breathing hot, smoky air in an ex- tunnel in the world, the first level transalp- comotives will climb the helical tunnels by tremely dangerous environment. On 28 Feb- ine track, it connects central and southern Wassen’s little church? Plans are afoot for the ruary 1880, the drill rods of the two galleries Switzerland, forms a straight, near-horizon- Gotthard line to become a UNESCO World met with almost perfect precision: they were tal connection, and is the boldest vision yet Cultural Heritage site. only a few centimetres apart in height and 33 for conquering the Alps. Since the autumn centimetres horizontally. The world’s long- of 1993, gigantic tunnel drilling machinery est railway tunnel of the time and the first all- with drill heads 10 metres in diameter has year connection through the Swiss Alps had been working its way through the millennia- been completed, and the St.Gotthard rail- old rock. Never has a tunnel been dug so far way began operating on 1 June 1882. into a mountain. According to the computer At least 200 miners, nearly all of them Ital- model, the tips of the two screws will be less LITERATURE: DOCUMENTATION: Helmut Stalder: “Mythos Gotthard”. Published by ians, lost their lives. A small memorial stone than 20 centimetres apart when they meet at Orell Füssli, Zurich 2003. CHF 44.80, EUR 29.90; was erected to them in Göschenen cemetery, the centre. “Der St.Gotthard und seine Hospize”. Swiss art guide. Berne 1994; www.alptransit.ch (NRLA base tunnel) while another memorial to fallen miners – Trains will have to climb or descend www.gotthard-strassentunnel.ch (Traffic reports, “Le vittime de Lavoro” by Vincenzo Vela – no more than eight metres per kilometre. guided tours of the control centres); www.gotthard tunnel.ch (Information on the railway tunnel and its stands near Airolo station. Louis Favre never Thanks to this small incline, trains will be history); www.gotthard-hospiz.ch (Sights, hotel, lived to witness his triumph. He collapsed in able to race through the Alps at 250 kilome- restaurant) 5 October 2006 / No.

SWISS REVIEW Photo: Alptransit Diagram of the Gotthard Base Tunnel with emergency stops and ventilation. At 57 kilometres, the new base tunnel is the longest railway tunnel in the world. POLITICS/VOTING 11

Preview to the referendum Results of the referendum Comment of 26 November of 24 September Bitter defeat for the left 1. Contributions to the new 1. New foreigners’ law and EU Member States amended asylum law approved Before Sunday’s referendum, the left was confident it would get majority backing 2. Uniform child allowance 2. Proposal to divert National for its “National Bank profits for the AHV” of at least CHF 200 Bank profits to the AHV rejected campaign. The outcome was therefore ex- tremely sobering: Three-fifths of eligible In conjunction with the second package of It’s final: Switzerland can modernise its im- voters in 23 of the 26 cantons opposed bilateral negotiations, Switzerland and the migration policies. The voters have brushed the move. In other words, a clear majority EU have come to two more agreements. aside a centre-left referendum and clearly of the Swiss population has shied away These concern the extension of free move- approved legislative changes proposed by the from taking a gamble that no country has ment of persons to include the ten new EU Federal Council and parliament. The new yet embarked on, namely linking eco- Member States, and a contribution of CHF regulations will lay down a twin-track immi- 1 billion to these countries. The negotiation gration system. Whereas bilateral agree- nomic and welfare policies. As enticing dossier itself and the extension of the agree- ments mean that citizens as the windfall may be for the AHV, the ment on free movement of persons already are treated just like Swiss nationals, would- people see it neither as a lasting solution passed the referendum test last year. Now the be immigrants from outside the EU will now for safeguarding pensions nor did they electorate must also vote on the third part. only have access to the Swiss labour market want federal and cantonal revenues cut The Swiss People’s Party (SVP), supported if they are highly skilled. Foreigners already by CHF 1.5 billion a year. by the Swiss Democrats and the Campaign living in Switzerland will be helped to inte- However despite the clear verdict, the for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland, grate better. day’s winners can’t afford to rest on their has succeeded in pressing for a referendum In addition to the foreigners’ law, the Swiss on these cohesion contributions. also voted to toughen up the asylum regula- laurels. An ageing population means the The Federal Council and parliament want tions. Although the referendum committee AHV faces serious shortfalls in the near this financial support to be paid within the got broader support in opposing such future. Switzerland must therefore put to- framework of the Federal Law on Eastern changes and campaigning focussed almost gether reforms capable of securing a ma- Europe. Rather than being made to the EU entirely on this issue, the two bills received jority based on a combination of tweaking Cohesion Fund, payments would constitute almost identical backing: 68 percent of vot- expenditure and raising contributions. direct contributions by Switzerland to bilat- ers said “Yes” to the foreigners’ law, while The political left suffered an even greater erally-agreed projects in eastern European 67.8 percent approved the amended asylum defeat on the amendments to the asylum countries. Only the overall total and its dis- law. The moves were endorsed by all cantons. and foreigners’ laws. Although even the tribution among the different countries is The “Yes” votes for both bills topped the 75 defined. The payments are to be staggered percent-mark in the cantons of Aargau, Ap- popular parties had criticised the laws, over ten years. The two ministries that pro- penzell-Innerhoden, Glarus, Nidwalden, and asylum applications are at their low- vide development aid to the east will be re- Obwalden, Schwyz, Thurgau and Zug. The est point in years, the majority of the quired to cover 60 percent of the extra ex- new laws fared less well in western Switzer- Swiss people is convinced that the asylum penditure through internal cost-cutting land than in the German-speaking areas, get- regulations need further toughening up. without compromising development aid to ting slightly over 50 percent support in Ge- And yet the outcome is hardly surprising countries in the southern hemisphere. The neva, Jura and Neuenburg. since voters have endorsed all immigra- remaining 40 percent will come from general tion policy changes proposed by the Fed- federal budgets. National Bank profits not for the AHV A Social Democrat-led bid to redirect some eral Council and parliament in recent The price of bilateral cooperation of the Swiss National Bank’s profits to the years. The SVP demanded that the CHF 1 billion old-age and survivors’ pension scheme By backing the foreigners’ law, the elec- be funded budget-neutrally. It also wanted (AHV) failed to get popular approval. Over- torate has paved the way for modern im- the law amended to prevent Switzerland hav- all, 58.3 percent of voters said “No” to the migration and integration policies. Nev- ing to make similar payments if Romania, proposal. Only the cantons of Ticino (57.5%), ertheless, it remains to be seen whether Bulgaria or other countries also joined the Basel City (53.6%) and Geneva (51.3%) the amended asylum law will meet its EU. Having failed to get either demand ap- backed the move. The outcome was very backers’ high expectations. After all, the proved in parliament, the SVP has now tight in Jura (49.2% Yes votes), while the tougher regulations are unlikely to pre- sought a referendum. The bill was passed by proposal was most unambiguously rejected 127 votes to 53 in the National Council, and in Appenzell-Innerrhoden (No: 74.9%), Zug vent people coming to Switzerland not 5 October 2006 / No. 37 votes to 1 in the Council of States. (66.8%), Glarus (66.5%) as well as Appen- because of persecution in their home The Federal Council and the majority of zell-Ausserrhoden and Thurgau (both country, but simply in search of a better

SWISS REVIEW parliament look on the payment as the price 66.2%). RL life in the rich north. RENÉ LENZIN Continued on page 15 12 OFFICIAL DFA INFORMATION

Matrimonial quisitions, the husband and common property belongs to quire authorisation from their wife basically have separate es- both parties in its entirety. The legal representative. In Swit- property law and tates. Their assets are divided marital contract defines which zerland, marriage contracts are foreign residents into personal and jointly-ac- items constitute the common usually concluded in the pres- quired property. property. ence of a notary. Swiss matrimonial property Personal property includes law determines what belongs assets that each spouse uses Separation of property Further information on to a husband and wife during purely for his own use, for The separate estate regime is Swiss marital and succession their marriage and how their example clothes, sports equip- described as an “extraordinary legislation can be found in assets are to be divided up in ment or assets that the person property regime” since it is im- a brochure published in the event of divorce or death. either had before marrying or posed either by law or by a German, French and Italian If you live abroad, the inter- he/she acquires free during the court ruling (Articles 247-251 by the Swiss Federal Office national private law of the marriage (gifts, inheritances, ZGB). However, the couple of Justice. It is available at the host country may stipulate etc.) Jointly-acquired property may choose to separate their following Internet address: that the matrimonial property is defined as everything the property through a marriage www.bundespublikationen.ch regime selected in Switzerland couple acquires during their contract. The separation of does not apply. It is therefore marriage, for instance through property regime recognises no Swiss nationals resident advisable to find out about work, including interest on common property. Both abroad the applicable international personal assets. spouses manage and use their The situation is more complex private law regulations in your If the estate is dissolved due assets autonomously, and have if a Swiss couple moves its resi- intended country of residence to divorce or death, the jointly- independent rights to them dence outside Switzerland. if you are planning to move acquired property is divided during their marriage. If the In this case, both Swiss law and abroad. equally between the husband marriage is dissolved, neither that of the host country may and wife. The part belonging spouse has any claim on the apply. Many married couples The Swiss Civil Code (ZGB) to the deceased spouse is in- other’s assets. are not aware that if they switch distinguishes between three herited in accordance with the countries they may be subject different types of property re- provisions of the law of succes- Changes to the property to the legal regulations of their gime: sion. regime through a marriage country of residence and that contract their chosen Swiss matrimonial Community of acquisitions Community of property Within certain limits, the property regime may not apply. This is laid down in Articles This is defined in Articles spouses may adapt the legally The relevant international pri- 196-200 of the ZGB. It is de- 221–246 of the ZGB and laid stipulated regulations to their vate law of the country of resi- scribed as the “statutory prop- down by a marital contract/ individual needs by means of a dence decides which legislation erty regime” and applies auto- nuptial agreement between the marriage contract. Persons is applied – be it Swiss law or matically whenever a husband husband and wife. In this case, wishing to draw up a marriage that of the host nation. and wife have not entered into three estates are differentiated: contract must be capable of International private law a marriage contract. Under the the wife’s, the husband’s and judgement. Minors and those determines which legal system terms of the community of ac- their common property. The placed under guardianship re- is employed in which situation, 5 October 2006 / No. SWISS REVIEW Cartoon: Bartak. German Translated from 13

and rules on private-law rela- relevant Swiss legislation from POPULAR INITIATIVES tionships (personal, family, the following bodies in Swit- The following initiatives have been launched since the last issue and inheritance, contractual, cor- zerland: can now be signed: porate law, etc.) of an interna- ■ Cantonal legal information tional nature. It primarily an- centres ■ “For a ban on exports of military equipment” (until 27 December swers the following questions: ■ Cantonal lawyers’ associa- 2007) Which national law is applica- tions. ■ “Against the excessive construction of factories that damage the ble? Which court has jurisdic- Information is also available landscape and the environment” (until 20 December 2007) tion? And under which condi- from the Swiss Institute for ■ “No more unbridled construction of second homes!” tions can a ruling made in one Comparative Law in Lausanne. (until 20 December 2007) country be recognised and en- Please note that this informa- Signature forms for current initiatives can be downloaded forced in another? Outside tion is not free of charge. De- in German, French or Italian from the Federal Chancellery site: Switzerland, therefore, the pending on the work involved, www.admin.ch/ch/d/pore/vi/vis_1_3_1_1.html norms applied to assess individ- fees range from CHF 150 to ual cases are those stipulated CHF 450 per hour. Estimates by the international private- are issued for any research VOTING law regulations of the country likely to cost more than Federal referendum of 26 November 2006 in question. CHF 500. This allows custom- It is important for Swiss citi- ers to decide whether or not to ■ Federal law of 24 March 2006 on cooperation with the states of zens to note that in principle, ask the Institute to undertake eastern Europe (provided the move for a referendum is successful) the international private law of the research on their behalf. ■ Federal law of 24 March 2006 on family allowances (provided the their country of residence applies. move for a referendum is successful) This largely determines the law Address: to which their assets are subject Swiss Institute and the property options avail- for Comparative Law environment and both secure Changes of address: able under this law. CH-1015 Lausanne and fund the Swiss welfare Not to Berne, please! We therefore recommend Tel.: +41 (0)21 692 4911 state in the long term. that Swiss couples living Fax: +41 (0)21 692 4949 The initiative wants the wel- Changes of address should be abroad enquire about the rele- E-mail: Secretariat.isdc- fare contributions of all tax- reported only to your responsi- vant international private law [email protected] payers to be phased out as soon ble Swiss embassy or foreign in their country of residence. Internet: www.isdc.ch as possible. The resultant reve- consulate. These are the sole Under some circumstances, nue shortfall would then be bodies responsible for manag- couples may have a certain covered by taxes on non-re- ing the addresses of non-resi- amount of choice in determin- Energy tax for a newable energy sources, dent Swiss citizens and ensur- ing their property regime. This namely coal, crude oil, natural ing that “Swiss Review” is sent would mean that Swiss couples healthy environ- gas and hydroelectric power. to the correct address. could partly decide which legis- ment and securing According to the committee, With your help the Service lation has precedence in regu- the welfare state this would cut wage costs and for the Swiss Abroad can avoid lating their assets: Swiss law or leave employees with more the arduous research involved that of their country of resi- An inter-party initiative take-home pay. Labour would in locating the countless recipi- dence. Swiss nationals resident committee has launched a also be cheaper for the econ- ents of issues of “Swiss Review” abroad should also enquire federal popular initiative omy and companies would have returned as undelivered. about what happens to the entitled “Tax non-renewable a genuine incentive to create property rights they held until energy, not labour”. more jobs. This would also RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OFFICIAL DFA then. boost consumer spending. INFORMATION PAGES: Swiss embassies and consu- The initiative calls for a new The initiative can be signed GABRIELA BRODBECK, SERVICE FOR lates can provide information Article 131a BV to be added to until 24 July 2007. THE SWISS ABROAD/DFA on the relevant legal authorities the Federal Constitution, lay- in host nations. They can also ing the foundations for an eco- supply addresses of lawyers and logical tax on energy. This Advertisement notaries in the country of resi- would enable the state to re- dence. place some or all obligatory so- If the international private cial insurance contributions by law of the country of residence taxes on non-renewable energy 5 October 2006 / No. states that Swiss international sources. This shift towards tax- private law applies, Swiss expa- ing energy rather than labour

SWISS REVIEW triates can find out about the would, it is claimed, protect the 14 PATRIOTISM AND DEMOCRACY

In support of “patriotism light”. centre or the left. Because of their globalised The white cross on a red background has become a fashion economic policies, centrist parties weren’t able to focus on the nation state, and the left accessory, and Switzerland is back in favour with all segments considered it politically incorrect to see of the population. A new, apolitical form of patriotism is in Switzerland as good in any way. The new pa- vogue. Sociologist and patriotism expert Kurt Imhof explains triotism stems from young people who were not involved in the old political squabbles why. Interview by Heinz Eckert and simply love Switzerland.

How long ago did this form of patriotism first Swiss Review: Just a few years ago, it was gredient in the SVP’s recipe for success. surface? the done thing to criticise Switzerland. Was that a calculated move by the SVP? Reservations about globalisation not only What was the reason for this negative attitude The SVP’s manifesto filled a vacuum for helped the SVP, but also prepared the ground towards one’s homeland? many people, but I don’t think it was calcu- for this new patriotism. So when Expo 2002 Kurt Imhof: The student movement of lated. Christoph Blocher is certainly a pa- celebrated Switzerland in a carefree way, this ‘68 started the political battle against the triot. He makes no pretence. acted as a catalyst, strengthening the trend state in all its shapes and forms. They at- towards the new patriotism. Even the cul- tacked offshoots of the Cold War like state But the patriotism of today has very little tural sector took part at the time. This led to surveillance, the Federal Police, the expan- in common with that. the emergence of an image of Switzerland sion of civil protection as well as the bour- No. The SVP gave patriotism a very polit- untainted by party politics. geoisie and capitalism. We mustn’t forget ical edge. Those who promoted the Swiss that – just like the Free Dem- And since then people have ocratic Party – the Social been able to wear the Swiss Democratic Party (SP) was cross on their chest with very much an establishment impunity again and it has even party after the Second World become fashionable? War. This too the student Indeed. Expo turned the movement of ‘68 protested Swiss cross into a fashion ac- against. Added to this, Swit- cessory. All those who had zerland was seen as a perpe- used Swissness for their polit- trator, not a victim, of north- ical ends or rejected it on eco- south dualism. At the time, nomic grounds were outma- the revolution was expected noeuvred by young people to start in the south. The left- who discovered that they wing battle against the state lived in a great country. These was then adopted by the pop- young people made compari- ular parties. In the 1970s, the sons and were suddenly proud FDP starting campaigning of their homeland. under the slogan “Less state, more freedom”. Anti-statism Have other countries had simi- therefore has a long tradition lar problems with patriotism? on both sides of the political The Italian left also had dif- divide. ficulties with the state, but it was more extreme in Switzer- That was long before Ronald land than anywhere else. After Reagan and Margaret Kurt Imhof: “National identities devoid of party politics.” all, Switzerland is a nation cre- Thatcher, wasn’t it? ated by volition, without any Yes, Switzerland was a pioneer in terms of myth with flags had already clearly chosen natural, historically-dictated self-identity. It neo-liberalism. It was years before Reagan their political camp. The Holocaust debate has to be renewed again and again. and Thatcher came to power with the same of the 1990s only reinforced that. This gave approach. In 1983, the Swiss People’s Party the SVP another chance to strengthen their Were the Swiss virtues which young people (SVP) took over the “antistatist sceptre” specific understanding of “Swissness”. value so highly today, such as cleanliness, secu- from the FDP, merging it with the “Landi” rity, punctuality and reliability, simply not patriotism which had won it many votes. In 5 October 2006 / No. You coined the term “patriotism light”. perceived in the past? the 1990s, the mix of anti-statism and patri- What does it mean? On the contrary, they were even rejected. otism based on intellectual national defence This kind of patriotism stems neither from The left denounced them as narrow-minded

SWISS REVIEW Photo: Keystone was further strengthened to become a key in- the conservative right nor from the political and bourgeois, and centrists thought these 15

Continued from page 11 Swiss achievements would cost too much. So Absolutely. Our democracy would be un- to pay for bilateralism. They say Switzerland patriotism fell to the only party left: the thinkable without sovereignty coupled with benefits from the opening of the new mar- SVP. a self-image as a Swiss citizen. kets in central and eastern Europe, and must therefore also contribute towards the devel- Do democracies need patriotism? Do “Euroturbos” (campaigners for immediate opment of this region. They also claim that Democracy requires a belief in a common negotiations on Swiss entry to the EU, ed.) see a Swiss “No” could threaten the bilateral element. It requires loyalty and acceptance. it that way too? path. Brussels may not have said how the EU Why else should we bow to democratic deci- The “Euroturbos” have forgotten that be- would react to a negative vote in the referen- sions? That is why democracy is completely cause they only ever see the primacy of the dum, but it must be assumed that such an unthinkable without patriotism. Amazingly economy and the market as a regulatory outcome would hamper further negotiations. enough, both left-wingers and centrists ei- principle. Ratification of Switzerland’s inclusion in the ther overlooked or forgot this fact for many Schengen Agreement also still hangs in the years. But that’s not all. Switzerland was even Isn’t identification with Europe enough? balance. In addition, preparatory talks are rejected and condemned as an outdated The European identity is based on either underway on an agreement over the electric- model. Many people thought a globalised defending against new wars, Christianity or ity market, and Switzerland has indicated it world no longer needed national identities enlightenment. Of these, only enlightenment would be interested in negotiating a free anymore. is suitable as a common denominator for a trade agreement on agriculture. European identity. What role does the EU issue play? At least CHF 200 per child A decisive one because it split the elites. In Patriotism is always also a question of mass. “One child, one allowance” – this is the prin- the past, politics and economics always went How much can it tolerate? ciple agreed by parliament in March this hand-in-hand. And this schism was not good It depends what the patriotism is based on. year. If Swiss voters now approve the move for the country’s national identity. Ethnic patriotism excludes all others and is at the end of November, every child in Swit- thus as dangerous as religious patriotism, zerland will receive an allowance of at least A lot of the patriotism has come from the which harbours the idea of being a chosen CHF 200 and every adolescent in vocational “secondos” (second-generation immigrants, ed.), nation. There is too much of both of these training at least CHF 250 per month, no mat- of all people. Shouldn’t they be more multi- around. By contrast, there cannot be enough ter how much their parents earn. The only culturalist? open republican patriotism, which stems exception is self-employed parents, who will That’s the outcome of successful integra- from an act of volition by the citizens of a not benefit from the nationwide scheme. tion, which always leads to a kind of over- state. Allowances are currently the responsibil- identification. The banlieues in France, ity of the cantons, and vary from CHF 154 for where entire subcultures of un-integrüated Will the new patriotism have a political impact a first child in the canton of Jura to CHF 260 immigrants have developed, are witnessing on the next federal elections? in the Valais. Parents in 17 cantons currently the opposite effect. I’m certain of it. It just depends to what ex- receive less than CHF 200 a month for their tent the political left and the centrists are first child. But these are the minimum rates. Is this new patriotism fashionable around able to offer projects and visions for Switzer- Many cantons already grant higher allow- the world? land and focus their attention on their own ances for second and third children as well as Yes. The nation state is undergoing a re- country. Possible topics include education, young people in vocational training. In addi- vival as a primary organisational model for the family, transport, concordance and de- tion, employers are free to pay higher allow- the global society, and taking on more than mocracy. If the SP, FDP and CVP take up ances. For instance, civil servants receive merely a symbolic significance. People are the cause of Switzerland and its institutions, CHF 330 a month for their first child. identifying themselves through their nation the SVP will lose momentum. European pol- The harmonisation will increase expendi- state. That’s a reaction to globalisation. At icies must also be based on sovereignty, and ture by about CHF 600 million. Three-quar- the same time, democracy is also increasingly European politicians must set themselves the ters of this will be met by the economy, which being debated worldwide. target of “swissifying” Europe. Then the ob- will finance the allowances through employ- jective will be achieved. er’s contributions. That is why the Swiss How important is national consciousness Trade Association and Employers’ Associa- for one’s own identity? KURT IMHOF (49) is a professor of journalism and soci- tion have called for a referendum, supported From the political standpoint it is of deci- ology at Zurich University. He heads a unit researching by the FDP and SVP. By contrast, the bill is the general public and society. Before entering acade- sive importance. Democracies simply cannot mia, Kurt Imhof worked as a construction designer and backed by trade unions, the SVP, the SP and govern or regulate without patriotic national site manager. He has written numerous books about the Greens, who see the current cantonal dif- consciousness. But the importance of na- the media, communication and social change. ferences as objectionable and consider child tional consciousness varies at the subjective benefit payments an important element of level. family policy. The National Council voted 5 October 2006 / No. 106 to 85 in favour of a universal minimum So you consider the current developments child benefit, while the Council of States ap-

SWISS REVIEW positive? proved the bill by 23 votes to 21. (RL). 16 OSA INFORMATION

84th Congress lates, before engaging in an ex- the Council of the Swiss more Swiss abroad involved in tensive discussion of political Abroad (CSA) gathered in the political debate and en- of the Swiss Abroad issues with young Swiss abroad. Basel Town Hall to discuss cur- courages them to run for a seat in Basel Saturday’s plenary session rent issues on all aspects of the in the Federal Parliament. included speeches by Michael Fifth Switzerland, including the In the hope of preserving The 84th Congress of the Swiss Plüss, head of Novartis Swit- introduction of electronic bal- the rights – including free Abroad was held in Basel on zerland, Guido Magnaguagno, lots (e-voting) for elections and movement of persons – ac- 18–20 August under the motto the director of Basel’s Tinguely referenda. Federal Chancellor quired through bilateral agree- “Partnership between Busi- Museum, and Charles-Henri Annemarie Huber-Hotz gave a ments between Switzerland ness and Culture”. As the Favrod, a writer, journalist and progress report on develop- and the European Union, the representative of the Federal founder of the Elysée Museum ments at the national level. She CSA reiterated its support Council, Christian Blocher wel- in Lausanne. confirmed that pilot projects for a CHF 1 billion cohesion comed the 400 participants, Basel and the surrounding were working well and that e- contribution by Switzerland who were also given a chance area are one of the best exam- voting could therefore be intro- to the ten new EU Member to visit Basel’s chemicals ples of fruitful cooperation duced. The CSA considers e- States, and recommended vot- plants and museums. between business and culture in voting a valuable tool for ing in favour of the federal law Switzerland. Participants at the encouraging Swiss abroad to on cooperation with eastern Federal Councillor Blocher Congress of the Swiss Abroad become politically active, and European countries on 26 No- spoke about the role of both were given an opportunity has therefore lobbied vigor- vember. The Council approved the Swiss abroad and foreigners to witness this for themselves ously for the rapid introduction the law by 70 votes to 2. living in Switzerland. He during organised visits to major of this alternative method for The CSA had a lively debate about solidarity and asylum ahead of the 24 September ref- erendum on the new Foreign- ers’ Law and amendments to asylum legislation. Several Council members expressed their unease about the moves, emphasising Switzerland’s hu- manitarian traditions and the loss of image the country may suffer in the rest of the world if it introduced legislation which some critics consider inhuman. After a heated debate, the Council eventually voted in favour of both laws by 38 to 26. The 85th Congress of the Swiss Abroad will take place in Geneva on 17-19 August 2007. The topic for debate will be the humanitar- Federal Councillor Blocher discussing politics with young Swiss abroad. ian role of Switzerland.

reminded listeners that writer companies in Basel, including casting ballots in elections and and Switzerland critic Max Fr- Novartis, Roche and Syngenta, referenda. According to the Swiss schools abroad isch once said his passport was as well as the cultural venues CSA, the aim should be to turn invited to Zurich: his only link with his homeland, that help give the city its inter- e-voting into reality by 2010. Key factors in pro- although Blocher doubted that national repute: the Beyeler With just over a year to go this was generally the case for Foundation, Jean Tinguely before the next general elec- ducing Swiss quality the Swiss abroad. He then pro- Museum, Schaulager, Kunst- tions in October 2007, the CSA vided information on the new museum, the Antiquities agreed an election manifesto From 4 to 6 July, the presi- Asylum Law, which will be put Museum and the Museum of based on five pillars: politics, dents and headmasters of the to the vote on 24 September. Ethnology. mobility, education, Switzer- 16 Swiss schools abroad gath- After his address, Blocher an- land’s international presence, ered in Zurich for their annual 5 October 2006 / No. swered questions from the au- Council of the Swiss Abroad and maintaining contact with meeting in Switzerland aimed dience and spoke out strongly The day before the Congress, one’s homeland. On the politi- at gathering information

SWISS REVIEW Photo: OSA against closing more consu- approximately 100 members of cal front, the CSA would like and exchanging experiences. 17

The main topics of this year’s The Swiss schools are not need to learn one of the lan- Hasliberg (Bernese Oberland) conference were financial man- only open to Swiss children guages of Switzerland? Saturday 10 February 2007 to agement, multilingual educa- abroad, but are also very popu- Saturday 17 February 2007 tion in a multicultural environ- lar with children from the host Winter sports week in Wengen Number of participants: 24 ment, educational benchmar- countries. This casts Switzer- (BE) Age: 8–14 king, a cohesive concept for land in a favourable light and 3.3.7–10.3.2007 Cost: CHF 640.– presenting education and train- creates a network of contacts (Minimum age: 18) Ski hire: CHF 120.– ing in Switzerland, as well as that is of lasting benefit to Swit- Some fans of this camp return Snowboard hire: CHF 125.– comparing best practices in the zerland and the Swiss economy. year after year, and newcomers business and educational For further information, contact: are always welcome. It’s a week- Easter sport camp in Fiesch sphere. The Committee for Swiss Schools long chance to sample every (Valais) together with the OSA On 4 July, the representa- Abroad winter sport imaginable and Youth Service tives of the Swiss schools met Irène Spicher, make friends with Swiss from Saturday 7 April 2007 to delegates from the worlds of Managing Director around the globe. Saturday 14 April 2007 politics, business and the me- Alpenstrasse 26 Number of participants: 24 dia. For this official rendez- CH-3006 Berne Easter sports camp in Fiesch Age: 12–14 vous, the canton of Zurich pro- Tel.: +41 (0)31 356 6121 (VS) Cost: CHF 640.– vided the use of its council Fax: +41 (0)31 356 6101 7.4.–14.4.2007 Ski hire: CHF 20.–/day chambers. Zurich is the patron www.schweizerschulen.ch The Valais always has plenty Snowboard hire: CHF 20.–/day canton of the Swiss schools in of wonderful snow at Easter. A reduction in costs may be Madrid (Spain), Catania (It- So come and enjoy winter granted by the Foundation fund aly), Cuernavaca (Mexico) and Head for Switzerland sports in the spring sunshine on application. Accra (Ghana). by day and convivial evenings Every year, the Committee this winter with the rest of the group at Programme for Swiss Schools Abroad Welcome to the wonderful night. Ski and snowboard, enjoy (CSSA) invites the 16 state- holiday paradise of Switzer- other winter sports like tobog- recognised and –sponsored land. We invite you to come Education ganing and ice skating, or sim- Swiss schools abroad to send and experience Switzerland’s Gain a very personal insight ply have a ball with other young delegates to a seminar with the spectacular mountain pano- into education in Switzerland. Swiss abroad from around the following objectives: ramas, fabulous snow-covered Our host families look forward globe. ■ To exchange information and forests, and unique ski to welcoming you, while your experiences resorts. general travel pass gives you Staff ■ To define their position on the freedom to explore Swit- Experienced teams of camp relevant political, educational The OSA Youth Service offers zerland on your own. leaders from the Foundation and business developments in a wealth of holiday options and Further information on the for Young Swiss Abroad. Switzerland study opportunities in Switzer- packages can be obtained online ■ To maximise the synergy ef- land. We look forward to seeing at www.aso.ch or by ordering Rendezvous fects between the different you soon. the new prospectus from Zurich Airport. Parents are re- schools Organisation of the Swiss Abroad sponsible for the organisation ■ To encourage a cohesive ap- New Year ski camp in Sedrun Youth Service and cost of the outward journey proach to the presentation of (GR) Alpenstrasse 26 to Zurich Airport on the first schools in Switzerland 27.12.2006–5.1.2007 CH-3006 Berne day and the return journey on The 16 Swiss schools abroad This popular ski resort in Tel.: +41 (0)31 356 6100 the last day. have a total of 6500 pupils and the Grisons mountains is a [email protected] are operated as private, non- must for young Swiss abroad, Further information and appli- profit institutions that receive or indeed anyone who wants Foundation for cation forms for these camps federal aid to ensure that they to celebrate New Year in the are available at www.aso.ch provide high-quality education snow. The camp already has Young Swiss Abroad (“Youth”, “Holiday camps for and retain Swiss characteris- cult status, so be there or miss Winter sport 8- to 14-year-olds”, “Program tics. These schools make a ma- out! adventures for Winter”) or from: jor contribution towards posi- Foundation for Young Swiss tive assessments of our country. Language course in Berne 8- to 14-year-olds Abroad They have an excellent reputa- 8.1.–19.1.2007 We still have a few places left Alpenstrasse 26 tion and offer top-level teach- Four language lessons in the at our winter sport camps. 5 October 2006 / No. CH-3006 Berne ing and, as such, play a decisive morning, group outings in the So if you want your children Tel.: +41 (0)31 356 6116 role in shaping the image of afternoon and cordial host to take part, register them Fax: +41 (0)31 356 6101

SWISS REVIEW Swiss quality. families. What more do you now. E-mail: [email protected] 18 PORTRAIT

A 30-year-old bundle of energy. Snowboarder Tanja Frieden, the winner of the gold medal at the in Turin, will soon be pitting her skills against her rivals again in the Boardercross World Cup. Because sport plays such an important role in her life, it‘s hardly surprising that she doesn‘t limit her sporting activities to . Even in summer she‘s always on the lookout for new sporting experiences. By Alain Wey.

verance and brav- rival, American boarder , ery. who fell just before the finishing line, knows Tanja Frieden to her cost! keeps her feet on And how does the amiable, expressive the ground and Tanja Frieden cope with the glamorous world refuses to be that success brings with it? “I‘m a chameleon. blinded by fame. I can just as easily convey a very good impres- Her motto is “Al- sion at a gala evening,” she quips. Frieden‘s ways be honest wit and sense of humour are reflected in the and stay true to way she explains her Olympic victory: “They yourself.” When- say the Bernese are slow. I just wanted to ever she travels prove that they can also step on the acceler- around the world ator when necessary!” taking part in ma- jor fun-sport events, she always radiates the cheer- SPOTLIGHT ON TANJA FRIEDEN fulness and infec- ■ Personal details: Tanja Frieden was born Tanja Frieden, 2006 Olympic boardercross champion. tious vivacity for on 6 February 1976 to a Norwegian mother which she was fa- and Swiss father. She lives in Thun, is 1.73m Beach volleyball, kite surfing, wakeboarding, mous even before the Games. Nevertheless, tall and weighs 65kg. Her mother, Kari, is a longboarding (a form of skateboarding), kay- she too must plan for the future and try to former Norwegian speed skater. aking, mountaineering: When Tanja Frieden cash in on her new-found fame. When her ■ Profession: Professional boardercross isn‘t standing on a snowboard, she uses her snowboarding career is over, she‘d like to snowboarder and teacher. almost boundless energy to engage in a wide help athletes improve their mental strength. ■ Hobbies: Kite surfing, surfing, wakeboard- range of leisure sports. Her philosophy is But no matter where life takes her, boarder- ing, cycling, beach volleyball, longboarding, “Use the elements the way they present them- cross will have provided her with three im- etc. selves.” Tanja Frieden may have won the gold portant keys to success: concentration, a cool ■ Achievements: 2006 Olympic boardercross medal in the boardercross, but she never head and patience. champion. Fifth at the 2003 World Champi- walks away from a new sporting challenge, be The 2007 Snowboarding World Champi- onships. Runner-up at the 2000 ISF Euro- it hiking up to the Konkordia Hut (at an al- onships take place in Arosa (GR) in January, pean Championships. titude of 2,850 metres between the peaks of and it goes without saying that Tanja Frieden ■ Agenda: 14.–16.12.2006: World Cup the Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau and Aletschhorn) will be there. The support given by Swiss meeting in Bad Gastein (D); 14.–20.1.2007: accompanied by a Swiss camera team or en- fans to their very own top sportsmen and World Championships in Arosa (CH); during a baptism of fire kayaking down the -women can help athletes surpass themselves; 25.–26.1.2007: World Cup meeting River Aare. so why not also the woman who came third in Leysin (CH); 3.–4.3.2007: World Cup “Sport dictates my lifestyle,” she says. “I in two events in Arosa in 2004? Whatever meeting in Big White (CA); 10.–11.3.2007: like to live intensively, go in different direc- the outcome, the boardercross competition World Cup meeting in Lake Placid (US); tions, and do what I enjoy doing.” Although – which is somewhat reminiscent of a Roman 16.–18.3.2007: World Cup meeting in Tanja Frieden‘s way of life hasn‘t changed chariot race – should attract lots more fans Stoneham (CA). since her Olympic victory, the gold medal- following Switzerland‘s success at the Olym- www.tanjafrieden.ch list is now very much in demand. What‘s pics. In Turin, the Advertisement more, the snowboarder from Berne is the sport proved its tel- first Olympic champion in a sport that cele- egenic appeal to brated its debut as an Olympic discipline in worldwide audi- Turin. Just like Gian Simmen, who won gold ences and showed 5 October 2006 / No. in Nagano in the half-pipe in 1998, Tanja how little separates Frieden is now an example to Swiss young- victory from defeat:

SWISS REVIEW Photo: Keystone sters, and living proof of the fruits of perse- something Frieden‘s NEWS IN BRIEF 19

Lucerne director mands for “active neutrality” Orienteering World Asteroid attracts star-gazers wins Golden Leopard sparked outrage from the right. Championships An asteroid with a diameter of The Swiss film “Das Fräulein” The last straw: The head of the Simone Niggli-Luder‘s hunger 800 metres passing relatively walked away with a Golden DFA suggested Switzerland for victory is insatiable. The close to the Earth at 18km/s Leopard at the 59th Interna- should request a seat on the Bernese runner picked up was recorded by Peter Kocher, tional Film Festival in Locarno. UN Security Council. The her 11th World Orienteering the technical director of the The CHF 90,000 first prize Swiss People‘s Party (SVP) was Championship title in Ependes Observatory (FR). If therefore went to the debut furious. Denmark. Marc Lauenstein you missed it, you‘ll now have film by Andrea Staka, a young from Neuchâtel won the to wait until 2021 to see a celes- woman from ex-Yugoslavia now 1 August from New York silver medal in the men‘s tial body this close to the blue living in Lucerne. The last to Mont-sur-Rolle race. planet. Swiss winner of this prestigious The first day of August found award was Fredi M. Murer‘s on Ellis Is- Marathon medal The Rolling Stones “Höhenfeuer” in 1985. land in New York, where Swiss- 32-year-old Viktor Röthlin in Switzerland Americans celebrate their na- from Obwalden won the silver The Rolling Stones gave the Pope visits Great St.Bernard tional holiday in remembrance medal in the marathon at the biggest concert ever held in During his holidays in the of the fact that the island European Athletics Champi- Switzerland at Dübendorf Air- Aosta Valley, Pope onships in Gothen- port (ZH). The event attracted Benedict XVI paid a burg, Sweden. It is the 70,000 spectators and cost surprise visit to the best result ever at this CHF 10 million to stage. Fed- monks and their fa- level for a Swiss mara- eral Councillor Samuel mous dogs in the hos- thon runner. Schmid, a Stones fan since the pice on the Swiss side very beginning, even got a of the Great St.Ber- Farewell chance to exchange a few nard Pass. More than to words with Mick Jagger and the 200 tourists gathered Joseph Deiss bid rest of the band. at the monastery to farewell to the Federal welcome the pontiff. Council and passed Federal budget the baton to Doris The Federal Council has ap- World champion Leuthard. Following proved the budget for 2007 aluminium recycler his election by the and the financial plan for 2008- It‘s official: With almost nine was the gateway to the New people of Freiburg in 1999, 2010. Thanks to cost-cutting aluminium cans in ten recycled, World for so many of their Deiss headed first the Federal measures, the budget finished Switzerland leads the way in forefathers. By contrast, Chris- Department of Foreign Affairs with a surplus of CHF 918 mil- recycling. 88% of the cans used toph Blocher was in Mont-sur- and then the Federal Depart- lion. According to the govern- in Switzerland are recycled, Rolle, where wine growers ded- ment of Economic Affairs. ment, the financial plans will compared with 87% in Finland icated a special cuvee with His successes: Switzerland meet demands to reduce the and the other Nordic coun- caricatured wine labels to him, joining the national debt. But centre-right tries. The separation of house- bringing a smile to the Federal and the signing of bilateral parties are demanding even hold rubbish introduced in Councillor‘s face. Swiss Presi- agreements with the European greater cuts in spending and Switzerland in the 1980s has dent was Union. public debt. AL AIN WEY

enabled six waste incineration not present at the Rütliwiese, Advertisement plants to be closed. thus sparing the event from any violence by right-wing extrem- Swiss return from the Lebanon ists. Rente oder Kapital More than 850 Swiss nationals were able to flee the war in Fissures in the Eiger Der Anlageplan RentenTIP® erhält Ihr Kapital und sichert Ihnen ein regelmässiges Ein- Lebanon with the aid of the A rock face on the Eiger in the kommen in Form einer Rente in Höhe von Swiss Federal Department of Bernese Oberland has a 250 6,5% pro Jahr Ihres investierten Kapitals*. Foreign Affairs, which played a metre-long fissure. Almost 2 Verlangen Sie unsere Unterlagen oder ein very active role during the cri- million cubic metres of rock persönliches Gespräch. Wir freuen uns auf Ihren Anruf. sis. Since the outbreak of hos- now threaten to fall off. An ini- tilities, Foreign Minister tial 300,000 cubic metre chunk Micheline Calmy-Rey vigor- of rock separated in mid-July, ProTIP Financial Products AG Fax +41 52 369 05 68 5 October 2006 / No. Hauptstrasse 36, CH-8546 Islikon [email protected] ously urged the warring parties creating a dust cloud that Telefon +41 52 369 05 65 www.protip.ch to respect the Geneva Conven- spread all the way to Grindel- *Beispiel: Eine Einlage von K 250'000.– ergibt Auszahlungen von K 16'250 pro Jahr.

SWISS REVIEW Photo: Keystone tions – so much so that her de- wald.