Europe

UN war crimes tribunal orders release of former Bosnian Serb police chief

29 June 2005
The United Nations International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) today released a former Bosnian Serb police chief serving a 10-year war crimes conviction in Spain, based on time served and his agreement to cooperate with the court in its ongoing investigations into crimes committed during the Balkan wars of the 1990s.

UN agricultural development agency funds small and medium-sized farmers in Georgia

29 June 2005
A new project to increase incomes and agribusiness opportunities among small and medium-scale farmers in 300 rural communities in Georgia has received $10 million, mainly in a loan, from the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Senior UN official to visit Kyrgyzstan over feared deportation of Uzbek refugees

24 June 2005
Reinforcing repeated warnings against the forcible return of asylum-seekers to Uzbekistan, where they could face imminent risk of torture, a senior United Nations refugee official is set to fly to neighbouring Kyrgyzstan tomorrow to seek a solution for some 450 Uzbeks there whose fate remains very uncertain.

Harassment, funding shortfall, hamper return of displaced in Kosovo – UN envoy

24 June 2005
Low-level harassment, curtailed freedom of movement, lack of employment opportunities and a dearth of funding were cited as obstacles to the successful return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Kosovo, in a statement issued today by the representative of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the rights of such persons.
USG Prendergast

UN political affairs chief says Cypriot parties want settlement, but gap is wide

22 June 2005
Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots want a settlement on the divided island, but establishing common ground between them requires what only they can provide – mutual confidence, courage, vision and political will, the United Nations chief of political affairs said today.

Human rights obstacles still remain for displaced people in Bosnia – UN official

16 June 2005
Despite “very impressive results” in solving almost all property disputes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, returning large numbers of displaced persons to rebuilt homes, and creating a safe environment for most returnees, several human rights obstacles must still be overcome, according to a senior United Nations rights official.

Security Council extends mandate of UN Cyprus mission

15 June 2005
The Security Council today extended through mid-December the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), the mission that monitors the ceasefire lines extending some 180 kilometres across the island.

Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan attacked, UN human rights team says

15 June 2005
A United Nations human rights team sent to investigate last month's violence in Uzbekistan reported that the security situation of over 400 refugees sheltered in a camp near the Kyrgyz city of Jalal Abad had greatly deteriorated following raids by a group of unidentified men.

Annan calls on Eastern and Central European States to support UN reform

14 June 2005
Though eight East and Central European countries are entering the European Union, giving rise to dramatic changes in their region, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) still need “to engage fully in the process of reform and revitalization that is high on the agenda at the United Nations,” Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today.
Søren Jesen-Petersen

Kosovo: UN envoy opens conference on province’s future

13 June 2005
The top United Nations envoy in Kosovo today said that it is time for the province’s majority and minority communities to move toward the resolution of Kosovo’s status by showing that they can build a stable, tolerant, multi-ethnic and democratic society.