Europe

Minaret of the Mahmood Mosque in Zurich, Switzerland.

General Assembly President expresses concern at Swiss ban on minarets

2 December 2009
The President of the General Assembly today added his voice to a chorus of United Nations concern over the weekend referendum in Switzerland which outlawed the erection of new minarets.
Minaret of the Mahmood Mosque in Zurich, Switzerland.

UN rights chief says Swiss ban on minarets ‘clearly discriminatory’

1 December 2009
The United Nations human rights chief spoke out today against the Swiss ban on the building of new minarets, calling it a discriminatory and deeply divisive step which risks putting the county on a “collision course” with its international rights obligations.
The International Court of Justice

Public hearings start at UN World Court on Kosovo independence question

1 December 2009
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations’ principal judicial organ, today began public hearings on the question of Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia early last year.
UN Special Rapporteur, Asma Jahangir

Swiss minaret ban discriminates against Muslims, says UN expert

30 November 2009
An independent United Nations expert on religious freedom today voiced regret at the Swiss vote to ban the construction of new minarets, stating that such a prohibition clearly discriminates against Muslims.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Secretary-General mourns victims of Russian train bombing

30 November 2009
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced the hope today that investigations will shed more light on the circumstances behind the bombing of a Russian train that killed 25 people on Friday night, and injured scores more.
Serbian Radical Party leader Vojislav Šešelj

Trial of Serb politician to resume at UN war crimes tribunal in January 2010

25 November 2009
The United Nations tribunal set up to deal with the worst war crimes committed during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s has ordered that the trial of Serbian Radical Party leader Vojislav Šešelj, which had been adjourned in February amid allegations that witnesses had been intimidated, resume on 12 January 2010.
Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias (right) and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat

Cypriot leaders focus on immigration and citizenship in UN-backed talks

24 November 2009
The Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders met today to continue discussions on immigration, citizenship and asylum as part of the ongoing United Nations-backed, power-sharing negotiations.

Bosnia needs continued support amid political impasse, Security Council told

23 November 2009
Bosnia and Herzegovina needs continued international support in its bid for Euro-Atlantic integration, despite the political impasse it is currently facing, the United Nations Security Council was told today.
European Union flag.
S. Solberg J.

Ban welcomes appointment of new European leaders

20 November 2009
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced the hope for increased cooperation between the European Union and the United Nations following the appointment of Herman van Rompuy as the first EU President and Catherine Ashton as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

As European population ages, UN body suggests ways to enhance senior lives

20 November 2009
The number of elderly people in Europe is on the rise and responding to their changing needs is one of the biggest challenges that governments have to face this century, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) said today.