Europe

Third witness in Kosovo trial faces charges at UN tribunal over refusal to testify

14 November 2007
A witness who failed to appear before the United Nations war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia during the trial of the former prime minister of Kosovo has been arrested on contempt of court charges.

On latest stop of tour, Ban Ki-moon discusses climate change with Spanish leader

14 November 2007
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon held talks about the pressing global issue of climate change today with the Spanish Prime Minister during the latest leg of an international trip that has already taken the United Nations chief to Antarctica and South America.

World Heritage site in Germany may be de-listed if bridge is built – UNESCO

14 November 2007
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) warned today that a German court’s decision to authorize the construction of a bridge could lead to the removal of the Dresden Elbe Valley from the World Heritage List of the planet’s outstanding natural and cultural sites.

Prestigious Berliner Philharmoniker signs on to promote UNICEF

12 November 2007
The Berliner Philharmoniker today joined the roster of advocates lending their prestige and prominence to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

UN Peacebuilding meeting brings together range of players to explore

7 November 2007
The United Nations Peacebuiding Commission has made important progress in its first year of operations but needs more support, concluded a meeting in Geneva of more than 150 representatives of governments, UN entities, regional organizations and civil society groups attending a conference in Geneva.

Trial of Serb ultranationalist leader begins at UN war crimes tribunal

7 November 2007
The Serbian ultranationalist politician Vojislav Šešelj used “poisonous ideas” to incite war crimes against non-Serbs during the Balkan wars of the 1990s, prosecutors at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) said today as they outlined their case at his trial.

Greece and former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia meet for UN-led talks

1 November 2007
Representatives of Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia met today in another round of United Nations-led talks over the question of the official name of the latter country and related issues.

Bosnian Serb’s 15-year sentence upheld by UN war crimes tribunal

1 November 2007
The United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has upheld a 15-year prison term for a former Bosnian Serb soldier who pleaded guilty to charges of torture and rape of Bosnian Muslims during the Balkan wars of the 1990s.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Ban Ki-moon urges political leaders to show restraint

25 October 2007
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged political leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina to show restraint and support the work of the High Representative who is charged with overseeing implementation of the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement which ended years of brutal conflict in the country.

Governments must do more to ensure housing rights for Roma – UN expert

24 October 2007
An independent United Nations rights expert has urged European countries to ensure the right to adequate housing for Roma, as more and more of them have been forcibly evicted from their homes and are facing growing discrimination.