Europe

UN World Court acquits Serbia of genocide in Bosnia; finds it guilty of inaction

26 February 2007
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the main United Nations judicial organ, today overwhelmingly acquitted Serbia of committing genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Balkan war of the 1990s, but found it guilty of failing to prevent genocide in the massacre of more than 7,000 Bosnian Muslims in the town of Srebrenica.

UN-sponsored talks on future of Kosovo off to a ‘good beginning’ – envoy

21 February 2007
Discussions regarding proposals for the future of Kosovo have gotten off to a “good beginning” in Vienna today, the United Nations envoy for the future status of the Albanian-majority Serbian province said after starting consultations with representatives from Belgrade and Pristina.

Device explodes under UN vehicle in Kosovo; damage but no injuries

20 February 2007
An unidentified explosive device went off under a parked United Nations vehicle in Kosovo last night at a crucial time for the Albanian-majority Serbian province, which the world body has run since 1999, following the unveiling of proposals for its final status.

Kosovo: UN official stresses broad international support for status proposal

17 February 2007
The senior United Nations official in Kosovo, which the world body has administered since NATO forces responded to ethnic strife there in 1999, today stressed the broad international support enjoyed by a UN status proposal, saying it comes “at an ideal moment in history.”

UN agency signs deal with Irish Red Cross to reunite refugee families in Ireland

16 February 2007
The United Nations refugee agency has signed its first agreement with the Irish Red Cross on coordination between the two agencies to better help with reunification of refugee families in Ireland.

Ban Ki-moon to pay official visit to Austria next week

15 February 2007
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will pay a three-day official visit to Vienna next week at an invitation of the Austrian Government, during which he will meet with President Heinz Fischer and Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer.

Kosovo: UN envoy asks police chief to resign after deadly clash with demonstrators

14 February 2007
The top United Nations envoy in Kosovo today asked for the immediate resignation of the UN police commissioner there after the deaths of two people when police used rubber bullets against pro-independence demonstrators in the Albanian-majority Serbian province that the world organization has run since 1999.

UN-backed peace brokers in Georgia-Abkhaz conflict urge talks to enhance security

14 February 2007
A United Nations-backed group of countries involved in the peace process between the Georgian Government and Abkhaz separatists have called on both sides to immediately tackle security issues in north-west Georgia, where they fought a war 13 years ago that forced nearly 300,000 refugees to flee.

UN-backed tsunami warning system for Europe could protect millions of people

13 February 2007
Some 45 million people living along the coasts of Europe will benefit from a new life-saving United Nations-backed project to provide early warnings of an impending tsunami, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reported today.

Kosovo: UN mission says autopsies will be performed on dead protesters

12 February 2007
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Kosovo announced today that autopsied are being performed on the bodies of two protesters who died after a violent demonstration in the province’s capital, Pristina, at the weekend.