Europe

Refugees return to FYR of Macedonia despite roadblocks: UNHCR

31 August 2001
Ethnic Albanians using side roads continued to return to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia from Kosovo at a rate of about 2,000 a day despite blockages of main roads by ethnic Macedonians opposed to their return, the United Nations refugee agency said today.

Prosecutor of UN war crimes tribunal to charge Milosevic with genocide

30 August 2001
The chief prosecutor of the United Nations tribunal on the former Yugoslavia, Carla Del Ponte, announced today that she would sign new indictments against former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic in October for war crimes in Croatia and Bosnia and for genocide in Bosnia.

Annan's envoy arrives in Cyprus for meetings with Clerides, Denktash

29 August 2001
Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Adviser on Cyprus today arrived on the island, where he is scheduled to hold high-level meetings.

UN official calls on Belgrade to encourage Kosovo Serb participation in elections

28 August 2001
Briefing the Security Council today on efforts to engage Kosovo Serbs in the forthcoming province-wide elections, a senior United Nations official called on Belgrade to encourage Serb participation in the political process.

Cyprus: Annan holds "good and very useful" meeting with Rauf Denktash

28 August 2001
Secretary-General Kofi Annan today held a "very good and very useful meeting" with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, in Salzburg, Austria, as part of efforts for the resumption of talks on Cyprus, according to a statement released by a United Nations spokesman.

Some 900 refugees return to FYR of Macedonia from Kosovo: UNHCR

28 August 2001
As NATO started its arms collection programme in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, around 900 refugees went back to the country from Kosovo yesterday in the largest return in recent days, according to the United Nations refugee agency.

Kosovo: UN mission chief holds 'constructive' talks with top Serb official

27 August 2001
Hans Haekkerup, the head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), today held "long and constructive" talks with Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic, the UN Mission said in Pristina.

FYR of Macedonia: tension, insecurity still high in areas around Tetovo, UNHCR

24 August 2001
Despite calm and normal commercial activity in the town of Tetovo, in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, there was still a great deal of tension and insecurity in the surrounding areas, a spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said today.

UN enacts regulation to monitor property sales in mixed neighbourhoods in Kosovo

24 August 2001
The head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Hans Haekkerup, has signed a new regulation to ensure that all proposed contracts for property sales in certain mixed neighbourhoods in Kosovo would be thoroughly reviewed by a municipal administrator before being approved.

Kosovo: with FYR of Macedonia border blocked, UN mission forced to ration fuel

23 August 2001
The border crossing between the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Kosovo remained blocked for the sixth straight day, forcing the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to ration fuel, the UN Mission said today.