Europe

UNHCR protection officer talks to newly arrived boat people on a beach in Lampedusa

Surge in number of people crossing sea to Italy from Libya, UN reports

29 February 2008
There has been a sharp increase in the number of people crossing the sea from Libya to Italy this week, with over 1,000 people arriving after making the hazardous journey across the Strait of Sicily, the United Nations refugee agency announced today.
Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Georgia’s human rights record still of concern, despite progress – top UN official

28 February 2008
The United Nations’ top human rights official today wrapped up a visit to Georgia with a warning that while the country has made some recent progress, it must take action on areas ranging from its treatment of detainees to restoring trust in its judicial system to boosting the living conditions of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Bosnian Serb soldier convicted by UN tribunal to serve jail term in Belgium

27 February 2008
A former Bosnian Serb soldier and military policeman convicted by a United Nations war crimes tribunal of torturing and raping Muslim women and girls during the Balkan wars of the 1990s will serve the remainder of his 15-year jail term in Belgium.

Secretary-General to address Geneva-based human rights, trade bodies next week

27 February 2008
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will travel on Monday to Geneva, where he will address the seventh session of the Human Rights Council as well as the executive session of the board of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Moldova: UN agencies maintain emergency assistance in wake of drought

27 February 2008
United Nations humanitarian agencies are continuing to provide emergency assistance to families in Europe’s poorest country, Moldova, which last year experienced its worst drought in six decades.
Vault where Genetic material of the world's most important crops will be stored

UN lauds ‘innovative’ Norwegian arctic vault safeguarding world’s crop seeds

26 February 2008
The head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has hailed a vault built into a frozen mountain in the remote Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard to protect seed samples from the threats of climate change, disease and disasters as “one of the most innovative and impressive acts in the service of humanity.”

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Greece to hold UN-led discussions

26 February 2008
The United Nations envoy tasked with helping Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia resolve their dispute over the official name of the latter country will hold discussions with the two sides later this week as part of efforts to broker a solution.

Senior UN envoy welcomes Republic of Cyprus President-elect’s plans for talks

25 February 2008
Congratulating Demetris Christofias on his election as President of the Republic of Cyprus, the top United Nations official on the Mediterranean island today praised his stated plans to soon begin talks with the Turkish Cypriot leader.

Liechtenstein can do more to enhance its financial integrity – UN anti-crime chief

22 February 2008
The head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has called on Liechtenstein to take further steps to enhance its integrity as a financial centre after the tiny European principality recently ratified a global pact against international organized crime and human trafficking.

UN tribunal stays order temporarily releasing five former Bosnian Croat leaders

22 February 2008
The United Nations tribunal set up to deal with the worst crimes committed during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s today stayed its decision earlier this week to grant provisional release to five former senior Bosnian Croat figures who are currently on trial.