Europe

Nuclear Security Students Received Practical Training in State-of-the-art Facility

UN helps Russian training centre to enhance nuclear power plant safety

28 December 2009
Science students from Russia and Ukraine have been taking part in a United Nations-backed practical training programme to enhance the protection of people and the environment against radiation exposure from nuclear power plants while responding to safety and security-related needs.
Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias (right) and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat (file photo)

Leaders quicken pace at UN-backed reunification talks for Cyprus

21 December 2009
The Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders are intensifying their United Nations-backed talks aimed at reunifying the Mediterranean island, scheduling two three-day series of discussions next month after a senior UN official said they had made good progress over the past year.
UNFICYP on patrol

Cyprus: UN peacekeeping mission extended for another six months

14 December 2009
The Security Council today renewed for another six months the 45-year-old United Nations peacekeeping mission in Cyprus, citing “a rare opportunity to make decisive progress in a timely fashion” to reunify the Mediterranean island after a history of fighting between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.

UN official welcomes European Union approval of Internet copyright treaties

14 December 2009
The head of the United Nations agency tasked with safeguarding intellectual property rights today welcomed the European Union’s ratification of the so-called Internet Treaties.
Asylum-seekers from various countries gather near the northern French port of Calais

UN agency calls on European Union to reinforce refugees’ rights

11 December 2009
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today welcomed a new European Union (EU) asylum programme, but urged the body of nations to ensure the rights of refugees are protected.
Ethnic Albanians display a banner during celebration

UN World Court ends public hearings on the question of Kosovo’s independence

11 December 2009
Public hearings wrapped up today in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the question of Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia early last year, with the court now ready to begin its deliberations.
Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer speaks with reporters

UN official voices cautious optimism on progress of Cyprus reunification talks

9 December 2009
The Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders are finding “growing convergence” on many of the issues that have divided the two sides on the Mediterranean island, a United Nations official said today as he expressed cautious optimism that UN-backed talks aimed at reunifying Cyprus will succeed.
Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the IPCC, opens climate change conference in Copenhagen

Landmark UN climate change conference kicks off in Copenhagen

7 December 2009
The highly-anticipated United Nations climate change conference kicked off in Copenhagen, Denmark, today with countries issuing urgent calls for action to curb global warming.
The Ledra Street crossing point in Cyprus gets checked for unexploded ordnance

Ban reports ‘solid’ progress in UN-backed Cyprus talks, urges parties to forge ahead

3 December 2009
The Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides are making headway in the United Nations-backed talks aimed at reunifying the Mediterranean island, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reports, urging the parties to do their utmost to ensure a successful outcome.
UNFICYP on patrol

UN efforts to boost military confidence in Cyprus have not borne fruit, says Ban

2 December 2009
Although the situation in the buffer zone separating the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides of Cyprus has remained calm, efforts by the United Nations peacekeeping mission on the Mediterranean island to further talks on military confidence-building measures have not borne fruit, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said.