Europe

Special Adviser Alexander Downer addresses press in Nicosia

Cypriot leaders hold UN-sponsored talks on reunification; meet again on Friday

28 February 2011
Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders today held the first of two top-level meetings scheduled for this week, under United Nations sponsorship, as they intensified their efforts to reunify the Mediterranean island which has been split for almost 50 years.
Vlastimir Ðordevic

UN tribunal convicts former Serbian police official for crimes in Kosovo

23 February 2011
The United Nations tribunal set up to deal with the worst offences committed during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s today convicted a former senior Serbian police official for crimes carried out in Kosovo and sentenced him to 27 years imprisonment.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay

Belarus: UN rights official speaks out against sentencing of political opponents

21 February 2011
The top United Nations human rights official today voiced deep concern at the harsh sentencing of Vasil Parfyankou in the first of dozens of trials against opposition leaders and supporters in Belarus.
High Commissioner Navi Pillay

UN rights chief urges Russia to step up efforts to ensure rule of law, accountability

17 February 2011
The United Nations human rights chief today urged Russian authorities to act without delay on reforms to key institutions relating to the rule of law and the fight against corruption and discrimination.
Special Representative for Kosovo Lamberto Zannier addresses Security Council

Kosovo: UN envoy calls for probe into allegations of human organ trafficking

16 February 2011
The top United Nations official in Kosovo today called for an urgent investigation into allegations that members of the ethnic Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) trafficked in human organs in 1999, when it was pitted against ethnic Serbs and the Yugoslav army.
An Italian coastguard vessel rescues Tunisians afloat on a raft near Lampedusa

UN and partners working to manage influx of Tunisian refugees into Italy

15 February 2011
The United Nations refugee agency and its partners are assisting authorities in southern Italy to manage the recent influx of Tunisians, many of whom have come seeking employment while others have fled citing fear of violence and a breakdown of law and order in their homeland.

At special ceremony, UN pays tribute to victims of Holocaust

10 February 2011
The United Nations held a special ceremony today to pay homage to the six million Jews and countless others slaughtered in the Nazi death camps of the Second World War, stressing that the drive to prevent a repetition of such horror was one of the reasons the Organization was founded.
Personal Envoy Matthew Nimetz

UN envoy convenes talks on former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia name issue

9 February 2011
The United Nations envoy tasked with mediating talks between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in the dispute over the latter’s name today wrapped up two days of discussions in New York with representatives from both sides.
EU High Representative Catherine Ashton

European foreign policy chief reaffirms commitment to strong UN

8 February 2011
The European Union (EU) today reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to effective multilateralism with a strong United Nations at the core.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (right) with Foreign Minister of Germany Guido Westerwelle

Ban holds talks with German foreign minister ahead of Middle East meeting

4 February 2011
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today hailed Germany’s strong commitment to the United Nations, noting that it the third-largest financial contributor and provides peacekeepers in Lebanon, Sudan and elsewhere.