Europe

UN mission investigates possible fraud by Kosovo energy company

30 April 2002
The United Nations mission in Kosovo today said it was investigating possible fraud by the province's energy company, involving €4.5 million (euros) of international aid money used to import electricity.

UNHCR concerned at reports of stowaways being denied hearing in European ports

30 April 2002
The United Nations refugee agency today urged European countries to sort out the case of a pair of stowaways who, in an apparent attempt to seek asylum, have been travelling from port to port aboard a cargo ship for more than two weeks.

UN refugee agency welcomes European Union move to standardize asylum policies

26 April 2002
The United Nations refugee agency today welcomed a new European Union (EU) policy towards asylum seekers as an “important step,” but also noted that the measure might lower some countries’ standards, particularly with regard to refugee employment.

On 16th anniversary of Chernobyl, Annan urges support for disaster’s victims

26 April 2002
Exactly 16 years after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today urged assistance for the countries and people affected by the disaster.

Georgia-Abkhaz conflict must not be allowed to simmer, Annan says, urging talks

25 April 2002
The Georgian-Abkhaz conflict must not be allowed to simmer, Secretary-General Kofi Annan says in a new report to the Security Council, urging both sides to hold talks aimed at resolving their fundamental differences.

Former top Yugoslav army officer transferred from Serbia to UN war crimes tribunal

25 April 2002
A former top officer in the Yugoslav army, wanted for allegedly leading a campaign of "terror and violence" in 1999 in Kosovo, was transferred today from Serbia to the detention unit of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague.

Kosovo: UN mission assists villages damaged by earthquake

25 April 2002
The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) today continued to assist the population of Gnjilane following yesterday's earthquake, in which one person was killed and 23 hospitalized.

Kosovo: more needs to be done on security, economic development, Annan reports

24 April 2002
While the formation of a government in Kosovo earlier this year after several months of deadlock was an important step forward, much more needs to be done to create a secure climate in order to spur economic development, Secretary-General Kofi Annan says in a new report on the United Nations efforts in the province.

Security Council welcomes political progress in Kosovo, urges further returns

24 April 2002
The United Nations Security Council today welcomed advances in Kosovo's political structures while stressing the need to further facilitate the return of all displaced persons to the territory.

UNHCR voices concern for rising number of attacks against foreigners in Moscow

19 April 2002
The United Nations refugee agency today voiced great concern over what it said was a growing incidence and viciousness of racists attacks in Moscow against foreigners, including many refugees and asylum seekers.