Europe

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses a session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.
UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

UN chief urges European Parliament to approve process on Paris Agreement ratification

4 October 2016
Addressing the plenary of the European Parliament, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called its members to approve a speedy ratification by the European Union (EU) of the Paris Agreement on climate change and to help lead the world to a better future.
A villager cycles through the devastation visited on his east Ukraine village of Novosvetlovka after conflict engulfed the region in 2014.
UNHCR/Petr Shelomovskiy

UN refugee agency urges better measures for people crossing contact line in eastern Ukraine

30 September 2016
The United Nations refugee agency today called on authorities in Ukraine to help ease the plight of some 26,000 people who cross the dividing line between Government-controlled and non-Government-controlled areas of the crisis-gripped country daily.
Espen Barth Eide, Special Advisor of the Secretary-General on Cyprus.
UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA)

A settlement to Cypriot dispute ‘closer than ever before, but there’s still a way to go’ – UN Special Adviser

28 September 2016
Peace and Security

On 22 August 2014, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced that he had appointed Mr. Espen Barth Eide of Norway as his new Special Adviser on Cyprus, replacing Mr. Alexander Downer of Australia, who had stepped down four months earlier, in April.

Valentin Rybakov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-first session.
UN Photo/Amanda Voisard

Achieving 2030 Agenda will require overcoming rising ‘feeling of chaos,’ Belarus tells UN Assembly

26 September 2016
There is a feeling among people today that the world is not “developing within the framework of rational order and common sense” as conflicts and an increasing number of transnational conflicts give rise to a feeling of chaos, the Deputy Vice Minister of Belarus told delegations in the United Nations today adding that such chaos exists side by side with unprecedented interconnectedness and technological progress.
Ib Petersen, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-first session.
UN Photo/Amanda Voisard

In General Assembly, Denmark calls for greater UN efficiency and transparency

26 September 2016
Confronting the daunting challenges that face the world, the United Nations must improve its performance to transform its ambitious agendas on sustainable development and climate change into “real change” that benefits all people, Denmark told the General Assembly today.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (centre) meets with Nicos Anastasiades (left), President of the Republic of Cyprus, and Mustafa Akinci, Leader of the Turkish Cypriot Community.
UN Photo/Isaac Billy

UN chief commends Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders on 'remarkable progress'

25 September 2016
Following a “productive” meeting today with Mustafa Akýncý, Turkish Cypriot leader, and Nicos Anastasiades, Greek Cypriot leader, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed their joint commitment to intensify efforts even further, in line with their stated desire to achieve a comprehensive settlement in 2016.
Charles Flanagan, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-first session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

Ireland’s migrant past ‘tragic present for so many,’ Foreign Minister tells UN

24 September 2016
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Ireland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade today highlighted his country’s response to the ongoing refugee and migrant crisis.
Sirodjidin Aslov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-first session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

UN is key to achieving development goals and tackling terrorism, Tajikistan tells Assembly

24 September 2016
From spurring momentum to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to combatting terrorism and drug trafficking, the United Nations is the crucial element for success, Tajikistan told the General Assembly today.
Lilja Dögg Alfreðsdóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-first session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

2030 Agenda should be on ‘the walls of every planning ministry,’ Iceland tells world leaders at UN

24 September 2016
Emphasizing that the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is the world’s “common roadmap” to sustainability, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Iceland underlined the need to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on time.
Foreign Minister Aurelia Frick of Liechtenstein addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-first session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

In UN Assembly, Liechtenstein denounces Security Council’s ‘shameful indifference’ on Syria

24 September 2016
Accusing the United Nations Security Council of “shameful indifference” and “failure” in stopping the mass atrocities committed in Syria, Liechtenstein’s Foreign Minister Aurelia Frick mounted the podium of the General Assembly today to call on the 15-member body to face up to its responsibilities with a change of political culture.