Little Switzerland

The breakdown between the different religious denominations has shifted noticeably over the past several years. Traditionally, over 95 percent of the population had been split evenly between the Protestant and the Roman Catholic Church, but since the 1970s, there has been a steady increase of persons formally renouncing their church membership. In the Roman Catholic Church, immigration from southern Europe has countered this trend. The arrival of immigrants from other areashas contributed to the noticeable growth of religious communities that had little presence in the country in the past. According to the Government's Statistics Office, membership in religious denominations is as follows: 41.8 percent Roman Catholic; 33.0 percent Protestant; 1.8 percent Orthodox; 0.2 percent Old Catholic; 0.2 percent other Christian groups; 4.3 percent Muslim; 0.2 percent Jewish; 0.8 percent other religions (Buddhist, Hindi, and other); 11.1 percent no formal creed. ... [Read More]

Report on Global Anti-Semitism

January 5, 2005 Executive Summary I.  Anti-SemitismAnti-Semitism has plagued the world for centuries. Taken to its most far-reaching and violent extreme, the Holocaust, anti-Semitism resulted in the deaths of millions of Jews and the suffering of countless others. Subtler, less vile forms of anti-Semitism have disrupted lives, decimated religious communities, created social and political cleavages, and complicated relations between countries as well as the work of international organizations. For an increasingly interdependent world, anti-Semitism is an intolerable burden. The increasing frequency and severity of anti-Semitic incidents since the start of the 21st century, particularly in Europe, has compelled the international com ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

Both clothing and shoes are readily available in Switzerland, but quality tends to be truly excellent or just plain sad, with little in between. Shoes are very expensive. MenLast Updated:  10/22/2003 12:14 AM Year-round wool suits do nicely. Sweater vests are acceptable and comfortable in the office for those early fall days. If you have representational responsibilities, you may use a tuxedo during the year. WomenLast Updated:  10/22/2003 12:14 AM Washington business attire does well in Geneva. Hem length varies. Trousers are common. Almost all receptions are held immediately after ... [Read More]

U.S. Department of State - Washington Hyper File

(Bush schedule in Little Rock, medical liability reform, Bush annual dinner with Joint Chiefs of Staff, federal budget, WMD/Iraq, Iraq Survey Group, David Kay, intelligence community, energy bill) (3140) ... [Read More]

Remarks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai

QUESTION: Would you mind elaborating a little on the positions that you say … ... [Read More]

Department of State Washington File: Text: Senate Resolution 271 Calls for Geneva Resolution on China

Whereas this resolution was kept off the agenda of the full Commission by a `no-action' motion of the Government of the People's Republic of China, had no cosponsors, and received little support from European and other industrialized nations and did not pass; ... [Read More]

Biography of Randolph Marshall Bell

Mr. Bell has worked extensively on issues related to World War II and the Holocaust. He led the U.S. team that helped organize the December 1997 London Conference on Nazi Gold. He also negotiated the successful closeout of the postwar Tripartite Gold Commission and the subsequent establishment of the $61 million Nazi Persecutee Relief Fund, which provides relief to needy victims who had previously received little or no compensation and also provides resources for projects aimed at preventing similar injustices in the future. Mr. Bell worked closely with Treasury Deputy Secretary Eizenstat to negotiate the two bilateral agreements concluded with Austria in 2000 and 2001 for payments to former World War II forced laborers and to individuals who lost property during that period. In his current capacity as Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues, he serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the German Foundation, "Remembrance, Responsibility and the Future" and as an observer to the Intern ... [Read More]

U.S. Department of State - Washington Hyper File

109 Transcript: Little Hope Iraq Intends to Comply, Negroponte Says ... [Read More]

Department of State Washington File: Transcript: Powell Sees Strong International Support for Afghan Reconstruction

QUESTION: Would you mind elaborating a little on the positions that you say ... [Read More]

Vol 31 No 1, January - March 1993 Page 6

“Today, I felt pretty interested in Mr. Murphey’s story, which was about the doctor strike. It was assigned that we should tell two people what he had said to us, so I was planning to tell my friends at lunch. But I had little time. . . . Then, it occurred to me that I would let my student [that I tutor] listen to the good story when I went to her house to teach. When I asked her to save a minute for it, she said, ‘It sounds nice.’ Then I did my best to make myself understood in an easy English that was suitable for her. Though she looked a little puzzled, I was delighted that she made out what I wanted to say.”   ... [Read More]