Europe

Georgia: Security Council extends UN mission through July

30 January 2004
The Security Council today unanimously extended the 10-year-old United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) through July after Secretary-General Kofi Annan reported that it was critical to maintaining stability along the ceasefire lines between Georgian and Abkhaz separatist forces.
Richard Conroy

Annan pays tribute to memory of UN development official killed in Uzbek plane crash

30 January 2004
Secretary-General Kofi Annan today mourned the death of the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) top official in Uzbekistan, killed earlier this month in a plane crash, remembering him as not only a dedicated and talented colleague but also "a thoroughly decent human being."

New UN report paints mixed picture of Kosovo's Provisional Institutions

30 January 2004
The record of achievements by Kosovo's Provisional Institutions is mixed, with progress apparently stalled in some areas, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan says in a new document made public today.
Kofi Annan with European Parliament President Pat Cox

Annan tells European Parliament that better migration policies will benefit all

29 January 2004
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today urged the European Union to better manage its legal immigration and strengthen the capacity of developing countries to give refugees adequate protection.

Iraq, Cyprus continue to be focus of Annan's talks with European leaders in Belgium

29 January 2004
The situation in Iraq and efforts to revive talks to settle the Cyprus problem continued to be the focus of discussions today between United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and senior European officials in Belgium.
Jan Egeland

Top UN relief official heads to Ukraine, Belarus after wrapping up trip to Russia

29 January 2004
The senior United Nations relief official is heading to Ukraine and Belarus today after wrapping up a five-day official visit to the Russian Federation, where he held high-level talks in Moscow and travelled to Chechnya and Ingushetia to observe the humanitarian situation in those republics.
Angelina Jolie

UN refugee agency ambassador Angelina Jolie documents visit to displaced Chechens

28 January 2004
Actress Angelina Jolie, a Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has released a new online journal documenting her mission to the Russian Federation, where she met displaced Chechens as well as refugees in Moscow and North Ossetia.

Kosovo is good lesson in international action against ethnic conflict – UN official

28 January 2004
The inter-ethnic conflict in Kosovo provides good lessons about both the successes and pitfalls of international action in halting ethnic cleansing and preventing it from occurring again, a senior United Nations official told a conference on genocide today.
Kofi Annan with President Jacques Chirac

In Paris, Annan welcomes French network to advance Global Compact principles

27 January 2004
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today welcomed the creation of a network of more than 230 leading French companies committed to advancing good corporate practices under his Global Compact initiative, voicing confidence that it will soon lead others in fostering positive social change.

UN tribunal for former Yugoslavia considering plea deal for Croatian Serb

27 January 2004
The United Nations war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has reserved its decision on whether to accept a plea bargaining agreement between prosecutors and a former Croatian Serb leader charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes.