Europe

UNMIK chief Søren Jessen-Petersen

Improving ethnic relations in Kosovo must be post-election priority - UN envoy

25 October 2004
On the heels of this weekend's assembly elections in Kosovo, the senior United Nations envoy there called for the swift formation of a new government once the polling results are finalized.
Kofi Annan

Annan and UN envoy hail success of weekend elections for Kosovo Assembly

24 October 2004
Secretary-General Kofi Annan and his senior envoy to Kosovo have hailed elections for the province's assembly, saying the high and peaceful voter turnout Saturday showed the public wanted to participate despite pressure from some quarters to stay home.

Environmental issues could worsen conflicts in southern Caucasus – UN report

22 October 2004
Environmental degradation and competition for natural resources could sharpen disputes in areas of the southern Caucasus already mired in conflicts, warns a United Nations report released today in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi.
The German container ship Lydia Oldendorff

UN refugee agency says Turkish asylum-seekers at sea deserve hearings

22 October 2004
The United Nations refugee agency today appealed to Malta and Italy to facilitate hearings for 13 Turkish asylum-seekers, who were deported from Italy and are waiting on board a German-owned container ship near Malta as the vessel prepares to return to Turkey.

Security Council endorses reorganization plan for UN mission in Cyprus

22 October 2004
The Security Council today endorsed Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s recommendation to reduce by one third the size of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and extended the mission’s mandate through mid-June 2005.

UN official welcomes Russian parliament’s ratification of climate change accord

22 October 2004
The head of the United Nations environment agency today welcomed the decision by the Russian Duma to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, paving the way for the climate change treaty to go into effect.

UN mission boosts confidence-building measures in Cyprus, chief says

22 October 2004
As the Security Council voted today on a reorganization of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), the head of the operation said its newly strengthened civilian component will work to build on the success of ongoing reconciliation measures.
Jessen-Petersen (right) on visit to Shterpce/Strpce

Annan urges all communities in Kosovo to vote in Saturday’s elections

21 October 2004
With the people of Kosovo heading to the polls this weekend for legislative elections, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called on all communities in the province to exercise their right to vote.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan

Georgia-Abkhaz peace process ‘perilously close’ to standstill, Annan reports

20 October 2004
Warning that the Georgia-Abkhaz peace process has come “perilously close” to a standstill, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has urged both sides to resume political contacts and to continue pursuing a negotiated settlement to the conflict.

Robots are taking an increasing number of jobs, new UN report says

20 October 2004
The chances of having an obedient robot do unwelcome or dangerous jobs have increased tremendously, with orders for industrial robots rising to a record 18 per cent in the first half of this year, a new report co-sponsored by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) says.