Europe

Pope hails UN food agency's Alliance Against Hunger

5 December 2003
Pope John Paul II today gave his backing to the International Alliance Against Hunger promoted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), saying the service was more urgently needed than ever.

UN tribunal sentences Bosnian Serb general to 20 years' jail over role in Sarajevo siege

5 December 2003
The United Nations war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia today sentenced a former Bosnian Serb general to 20 years in jail for spreading terror among Sarajevo residents during the city's long siege with a campaign of sniping and shelling attacks.
Kofi Annan

UN Secretary-General goes to Switzerland and Germany next week

4 December 2003
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan leaves for Geneva, Switzerland, on Sunday to address the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and then goes to Germany on an official visit, his spokesman said today.
SRSG Harri Holkeri

UN envoy to Kosovo orders suspension of 12 KPC officers pending inquiry

3 December 2003
The head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) has ordered that 12 Kosovo Protection Corps officers be suspended, with pay, for six months while a police investigation takes place into their role in the demolition of a railway bridge in the northern Kosovo town of Loziste in April.

Bosnian Serb sentenced to 27 years jail by UN war crimes tribunal

2 December 2003
The United Nations war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has sentenced a Bosnian Serb former chief of security and intelligence to 27 years jail - which was more than even the prosecutors requested - for his role in the 1995 massacre of Muslim civilians in Srebrenica.
Chechens in Ingushetia

Russians become biggest group of asylum seekers - UN refugee agency data

2 December 2003
Russians have overtaken Iraqis as the world's biggest national group of asylum seekers, but overall refugee numbers have declined over the first nine months of this year, the UN refugee agency announced today.
Council President Amb. Tafrov

Iraq central to Security Council work programme in December, President says

2 December 2003
The Security Council President for December, Ambassador Stefan Tafrov of Bulgaria, today outlined its work programme for the month, with Iraq expected to be a prominent source of activity.

Some 4,000 delegates evaluate implementation of UN climate change treaty

1 December 2003
The 188 parties to the United Nations Climate Change Convention are meeting in Milan, Italy, from today until 12 December to assess the progress governments have made in reducing manmade climatic changes and to set the global agenda for the coming year.
SRSG Harri Holkeri

Kosovo: At funeral of slain officer, UN envoy urges unity

30 November 2003
Paying tribute to a police officer slain in Kosovo, the senior United Nations envoy there today called on the province's people to choose peace over violence.

Kosovo: UN reports unconfirmed potential threat against international entities

28 November 2003
The United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) said today it had received information that an unconfirmed potential threat was made against international establishments there.