German parliament blocks new tax agreement with SwitzerlandNovember 23, 2012 - 16:57 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Opposition parties in Germany's upper house of parliament on Friday, Nov 23, blocked a new agreement with Switzerland aimed at ending a long-running dispute over German tax cheats who hide their money in Swiss banks, The Associated Press reported. The deal, which was to have gone into force Jan. 1, would have allowed Germans with undeclared assets in neighboring Switzerland to escape punishment by making a one-time payment of between 21 and 41 percent of the value of their Swiss-held assets. German authorities were also to be given more powers to seek information on German nationals' accounts in Switzerland. However, ahead of the vote in the upper house — where Germany's 16 states are represented and Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right government lacks a majority — politicians from the Social Democrat and Green parties said the deal wasn't tough enough. The Swiss Bankers Association criticized the vote, saying the upper house's rejection of the agreement meant that it "has missed a major opportunity to reach a fair, optimum and sustainable solution for all parties to definitively settle the bilateral tax issues." Finance Ministry spokesman Martin Kotthaus told reporters that the agreement had been the product of lengthy and complicated negotiations with Switzerland but that the government would try and determine if changes could be made to satisfy all sides. France, whose tax treaty with Switzerland dates to 1952, is also renegotiating an accord to catch tax evaders. The country's Socialist government has promised to tax the ultra-wealthy at a rate of 75 percent on earnings above €1 million ($1.29 million), and sees its Alpine neighbor as a haven for citizens trying to avoid paying their share. Switzerland has also ratified tax agreements with Britain and Austria and is in negotiations with Italy and Greece. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |