Europe

Landmine clearning

Cyprus: UN deminer killed in accidental bomb blast

28 October 2009
A United Nations bomb disposal expert died today in an accidental explosion while clearing landmines in Cyprus’ buffer zone separating the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides of the Mediterranean island.
Judge Patrick Robinson of Jamaica, President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)

UN’s Balkan war crimes tribunal re-elects President and Vice-President to new terms

28 October 2009
The two most senior officials of the United Nations war crimes tribunal set up to try people accused of committing the worst offences during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s have been elected to another stint in office, the court announced today.

Climate change tops the agenda of Ban’s visit to United Kingdom and Greece

27 October 2009
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will travel next week to the United Kingdom and Greece to spotlight the issue of climate change, just weeks before countries will gather in Copenhagen to try to reach agreement on a wide-ranging pact to cut greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the effects of global warming.
Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias (right) and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat

Cyprus talks on federal government continue under UN auspices

27 October 2009
Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders held further discussions today on the shape of a federal government of a future bi-communal republic as United Nations-backed talks to unify the Mediterranean island picked up pace.
A group of young detainees stare at visitors to the crowded centre at Pagani

UN refugee agency urges probe into alleged abuses at Greek detention centre

26 October 2009
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today expressed serious concern over recently reported violent incidents at a detention centre in Greece, and called for a thorough investigation into the matter.
Radovan Karadžić

Genocide trial at UN tribunal adjourned by a day after Karadžić boycotts opening

26 October 2009
The genocide trial of the former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžić opened today before a United Nations war crimes tribunal in The Hague but was then adjourned by a day after the defendant failed to attend the proceedings.
African swine fever reaches northern Russia. FAO is concerned as pig disease jumps from southern Russia to the Baltic.
FAO/Jon Spaull

African swine fever spreads to northern Russia, UN reports

22 October 2009
The devastating pig disease known as African swine fever (ASF) has now been found in northwest Russia, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported today.

Democracy vital in spurring development, achievement of human rights – Ban

22 October 2009
Democratic governance both reinforces and is bolstered by development and human rights, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon underscored in a message to a high-level event drawing thousands of representatives of both governments and non-governmental organizations.
UNFICYP on patrol

Property issues and external relations the focus of latest UN-backed talks on Cyprus

22 October 2009
Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders have discussed property rights and external relations during the latest two days of United Nations-backed talks aimed at reunifying the Mediterranean island.
UNDP Administrator Helen Clark

Norway teams up with UN development agency to reduce armed violence

21 October 2009
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has teamed up with Norway in a new drive to try to reduce armed violence, which kills more than 2,000 people every day, most of them civilians.