Europe

UN's Bosnia mission wraps up operations, leaves behind police force 'fit for Europe'

31 December 2002
After successfully completing the most extensive police reform and restructuring mandate ever undertaken by the United Nations, the UN Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) will cease operations at midnight tonight.

First meeting of technical committees for Cyprus planned for 7 January - UN

27 December 2002
The United Nations today announced that it has received from each side to the negotiations on Cyprus the names of their members of the committees that were set up to make recommendations on technical matters without prejudice to the positions of the two leaders on the core issues concerned.

Sending condolences to Russia following attack in Grozny, Annan stresses futility of violence

27 December 2002
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today conveyed his sympathy to those affected by a deadly explosion in Grozny, underscoring the futility of the violence, according to his spokesman.

Prosecutor decries Belgrade's 'unsatisfactory' cooperation with UN tribunal

20 December 2002
The chief prosecutor of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) today decried the continuing "unsatisfactory" cooperation by Belgrade with the work of the UN court.
Sergio Vieira de Mello

UN closes Croatia human rights office, will carry on support for protecting civil liberties

20 December 2002
As the United Nations human rights office in Zagreb prepares to close after successfully completing its work, the UN's top rights official today pledged continued support for Croatia.

UN chairs organizational meeting of 'technical committees' for Cyprus

20 December 2002
The Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots today held an organizational meeting, chaired by the United Nations, for two committees that the leaders had agreed to create on 4 October in the presence of Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Amb. Ole Peter Kolby

‘Notable progress’ in Kosovo but more needs to be done, Security Council told

19 December 2002
A Security Council delegation has found “notable progress” in Kosovo but much work remains to be done in several areas, including the rule of law and the return of minority communities, according to a report released today at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Council President Alfonso Valdivieso

Security Council members call for intensified talks on Cyprus

18 December 2002
Members of the United Nations Security Council today called for intensified efforts to settle the Cyprus problem.
Amb. Kolby (left) at press conference in Belgrade

Security Council mission stresses importance of Yugoslavia's full cooperation with UN

17 December 2002
Security Council members have stressed the importance of Belgrade's full cooperation with United Nations resolutions on Kosovo and the UN war crimes tribunal, the head of the Council mission said today as it concluded its visit to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Testimony ends at UN tribunal's sentencing hearing for former Bosnian Serb President

17 December 2002
At the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), the final witnesses testified today in the sentencing hearing of former Bosnian Serb President Biljana Plavsic.