Europe

Kosovo: declaring end to future status talks, UN envoy to present ‘realistic compromise’

12 March 2007
Neither Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian-led Government nor Serbia have shown any will to reach a negotiated accord on the future status of the Serbian province, where Albanians outnumber Serbs and others by 9 to 1, and the senior United Nations official overseeing the issue will submit a “realistic compromise” to the Security Council this month.

Welcoming European moves on climate change, Ban Ki-moon urges ambitious action

9 March 2007
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the European Union (EU) decision to establish targets for energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources in the battle against global warming, saying the moves can help put the world’s energy systems on more sustainable footing.

Removal of buffer wall in Cypriot capital ‘of great symbolic significance’ – UN envoy

9 March 2007
The top United Nations envoy in Cyprus today warmly welcomed as “of great symbolic significance” the removal by Greek Cypriots of a wall at the southern end of Ledra Street in Nicosia, the capital, part of the more than 40-year-old buffer zone dividing the island into northern and southern segments.

Kosovo: UN envoy presents revised proposals on future status

8 March 2007
The United Nations envoy for the status of Kosovo has submitted revised plans after reporting that Serbia and the ethnic Albanian-led government remain diametrically opposed over the future of the Albanian-majority Serbian province, which the world body has run since Western forces drove out Yugoslav troops in 1999 amid ethnic fighting.

As Kosovo nears final status decision, UN mission organizes outreach meetings

7 March 2007
The United Nations mission in Kosovo is arranging dozens of outreach meetings focused on the integration of minorities and good governance as the Albanian-majority Serbian province which the world body has run since Western forces drove out Yugoslav troops in 1999 amid ethnic fighting nears a decision on its final status.

Kosovo: Roma return to new homes in Mitrovica with help from UN and partners

7 March 2007
The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) today announced that after nearly eight years in makeshift camps, a number of Roma families have begun to return to south Mitrovica thanks to a combined UN and non-governmental organization (NGO) project that is also placing them in new homes.

New commissioner takes over as head of UN police in Kosovo

6 March 2007
A veteran British police officer with wide experience in international law enforcement has taken over as the new United Nations police commissioner in Kosovo after his predecessor was asked to resign following the deaths of two people in a clash with pro-independence demonstrators in the Albanian-majority Serbian province.

Secretary-General voices outrage after bombs kill Shi’a pilgrims in Iraq

6 March 2007
Condemning blasts in Iraq today targeting Shi’as on a religious pilgrimage, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the country’s leaders to use their influence to protect civilians and promote dialogue among all communities.

Kosovo: Serbia, ethnic Albanians remain ‘diametrically opposed’ on UN plan for status

2 March 2007
Serbia and the ethnic Albanian government of Kosovo remain “diametrically opposed” following week-long talks on United Nations proposals for the future status of the Serbian province which the world body has run since Western forces drove out Yugoslav troops in 1999 amid ethnic fighting, the office of the senior UN envoy on the issue said today.

UN refugee agency seeks to erase racial stereotyping in Italian media

1 March 2007
The United Nations refugee agency is seeking to solve a number of thorny issues in Europe, ranging from thousands of people who suddenly found themselves declared illegal in Slovenia to racial stereotyping by the Italian media.