Europe

Annan urges funding for dramatic growth in aid to Chernobyl disaster victims

26 April 2005
On the nineteenth anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today appealed to the world to provide the necessary funds for a dramatic expansion of aid to help communities still suffering the effects of the catastrophy.

Turk chosen to head UN development agenda

26 April 2005
Choosing from over 100 nominations by Governments and other institutions, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today named a Turkish former World Bank executive, who was responsible for developing new poverty reduction strategies, to head the UN Development Programme (UNDP) for the next four years.

Annan congratulates newly elected Pope Benedict XVI

19 April 2005
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today congratulated Pope Benedict XVI on his assumption of the papacy and wished the new leader of the Catholic Church "every strength and courage as he takes on his formidable responsibilities."

Information technology must be used to promote development, Annan tells UN forum

13 April 2005
To make vital progress towards implementing internationally agreed development goals, it will be crucial to harness the potential created by the past decade's info-tech explosion, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today in his message to a global forum on using new technologies to boost education.

More talks between Greece and former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – UN

12 April 2005
In an effort to solve the long-running dispute over the name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the senior United Nations envoy for talks between the now independent country and its southern neighbour, Greece, today outlined an intensified programme of both bilateral and mediated talks.

Next session of UN information technology forum to focus on education

12 April 2005
Hundreds of leading educators, scientists, development experts and programme analysts are set to gather in Dublin, Ireland, for a United Nations-organized forum on harnessing the potential of new information technologies for education.

Annan welcomes European proposal to hike foreign aid in bid to meet development targets

12 April 2005
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today welcomed a proposal from the European Union that its members increase their official development assistance (ODA) to a level that will provide an additional $25 billion to developing countries by 2010.

Belarus joins UN tourism agency

11 April 2005
Belarus has formally joined the World Tourism Organization (WTO), which the United Nations specialized agency says will allow the country to gain many benefits for its tourism industry.

Annan attends Pope’s funeral, lauding him as uniter of diverse peoples

8 April 2005
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II in the Vatican City today, praising the pontiff as “one of the greatest spiritual figures of our time” and joining hundreds of thousands of people gathered there in reflection and prayer.

UN seeks higher global media profile through Cannes TV programming market

8 April 2005
A 30-strong team of United Nations audio-visual professionals is heading to a major media forum next week in Cannes, France, to promote UN productions, expand television partnerships and highlight the global fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.