Europe

UN food agency advances into its fifth decade with the toss of a coin

13 December 2004
Support for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) became legal tender in Europe today when the Italian Government dedicated its first commemorative euro coin to the agency as it begins its fifth decade of delivering food aid to the world's hungry.

Balkan leaders vow to end bitter past through dialogue at UN-backed summit

13 December 2004
Six leaders of southeast Europe, scene of the worst religious and ethnic fighting in the continent since World War II, have pledged to close the bitter chapter of the past with a new culture of dialogue under a declaration adopted at a United Nations-sponsored conference in Tirana, Albania.
Kofi Annan

Ukraine: Annan hails plans for presidential re-vote

10 December 2004
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today welcomed steps taken by Ukraine's Parliament paving the way for a run-off to the country's contested presidential election.
UNMIK chief Søren Jessen-Petersen

UN envoy warns new Kosovo assembly that safeguarding minority rights is vital

3 December 2004
Declaring the next 12 months crucial in determining the future of Kosovo as it moves towards talks on its final status, the United Nations administrator of the ethnically divided province warned the newly elected parliament today that he would use sanctions against any officials who stood in the way of improving minority rights.
UNMIK chief Søren Jessen-Petersen

Kosovo Albanians must provide Serbs with sense of security – UN envoy

29 November 2004
Although security has improved significantly in Kosovo since March's deadly violence, the worst in the five years since the United Nations took over administering the ethnically-divided province, much work remains to be done to achieve the goals needed to settle its final status, the top UN envoy there said today.
Kofi Annan

Annan repeats call for restraint in Ukraine over election crisis

29 November 2004
Repeating his call for restraint, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today urged all parties in Ukraine to avoid worsening the tumult over the disputed presidential elections in that country.
Fred Eckhard

UN to chair talks next month on Georgia-Abkhazia peace process

24 November 2004
The United Nations will chair a meeting of interested nations next month to discuss the Georgian-Abkhaz peace process, a UN spokesman said today.
Kofi Annan

Following election impasse, Annan urges all sides in Ukraine to exercise restraint

24 November 2004
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today voiced his concern about developments in Ukraine, where a tense situation has emerged following the run-off Presidential election.

Despite progress, more action needed to bridge ethnic divide in Kosovo - UN

24 November 2004
Although there has been progress in reconstruction and reform in Kosovo since March's deadly violence, the worst in the five years since the United Nations took over administering the ethnically-divided province, key areas such as reconciliation and the return of minorities remain cause for concern, according to a new report released today.

14 elected to UN war crimes tribunal for former Yugoslavia

22 November 2004
After seven rounds of voting, the General Assembly has elected 14 judges to serve on the United Nations war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia through 2009.