Europe

Paddy Ashdown

Bosnia and Herzegovina at brink of EU membership, Security Council told

15 November 2005
In a final, emotional briefing to the United Nations Security Council today, the chief representative of the European Union EU in Bosnia and Herzegovina said that the Balkan country was primed for EU membership just ten years after the brutal war that had left its people traumatized and an infrastructure collapsed.

Local authorities can help build information society that benefits all – Annan

10 November 2005
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan is calling on local authorities around the globe to help bridge the so-called “digital divide,” the sharp difference in access to information and communication technologies between affluent and poor communities.
Child trafficking

UN expert fighting sex trafficking calls for child protection system in Albania

8 November 2005
The new Government of Albania has improved the legal framework necessary to reduce the flow of trafficked children, but it must develop a national child protection system aimed at combating the poverty that drives exploitation, a United Nations human rights expert said after completing his visit to the Balkan country yesterday.
Kofi Annan and Martti Ahtisaari (file photo)

Kosovo: Annan to name veteran trouble-shooter Ahtisaari to lead status talks

1 November 2005
Secretary-General Kofi Annan has informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, a veteran United Nations trouble-shooter, as his Special Envoy to lead the political process to determine the future status of the ethnically divided, UN-administered Serbian province of Kosovo.

UN refugee official sentenced to three years' jail for underage sex

1 November 2005
A court in United Nations-administered Kosovo, presided over by an international judge but also involving two judges from the province, has sentenced a UN refugee agency official to three years in prison on one count of sexual abuse of persons under the age of sixteen and one count of falsifying official documents.
Soren Jessen-Petersen addresses the Council

Council endorses start of status talks on Kosovo, top UN envoy calls this 'historic'

24 October 2005
The Security Council today endorsed the start of talks on the future status of ethnically-divided Kosovo, with the United Nations administrator of the Serbian province, which the world body has run for the past six years, calling it a very historic day.

Kosovo: Annan recommends starting future status talks now

21 October 2005
Although democratic progress in Kosovo has been uneven, talks should begin now on the future status of the UN-administered province of Serbia and Montenegro, Secretary-General Kofi Annan told the Security Council in a letter released today.

Georgia-Abkhaz sides should agree on non-resumption of hostilities, Annan says

21 October 2005
With peace talks between the Georgia Government and Abkhaz separatists restarted, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has voiced hope that both sides will be able to agree to a non-resumption of hostilities and the safe return of internally displaced persons and refugees.

Kosovo: UN war crimes court stays its decision to allow ex-premier to return to politics

14 October 2005
The United Nations court for former Yugoslavia has stayed its decision to allow former Kosovo Prime Minister and war crimes suspect Ramush Haradinaj to engage in politics and travel throughout Kosovo during his provisional release following an appeal from chief prosecutor Carla Del Ponte.

UN war crimes court says Kosovo’s ex-Prime Minister can return to politics

13 October 2005
Following a two-to-one decision, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has chosen to allow former Kosovo Prime Minister and war crimes suspect Ramush Haradinaj to engage in politics and travel throughout Kosovo during his provisional release.