Europe

Secretary-General sends top official to Cyprus to assess chance of breakthrough

17 March 2008
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is dispatching the United Nations’ top political official to Cyprus to lead an assessment team to the region amid hopes of a possible breakthrough in the search for a resolution to the long-running dispute on the Mediterranean island.
Lawrence G. Rossin, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General

UN official holds talks with Serbia's Kosovo Minister

16 March 2008
Meeting with Serbia's Minister for Kosovo, a senior United Nations official today underscored that challenges – which violate Belgrade's pledges to the Security Council – to the mandate of the world body's mission, known as UNMIK, must come to an end.
Joachim Rücker, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo

Top envoy strongly condemns attack on UN mission's Court building

14 March 2008
The Secretary-General's Special Representative today strongly condemned an attack on the District Court building of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) in North Mitrovica, which took place when a large mob overwhelmed UNMIK Police.

Over 100 million Europeans lack access to safe drinking water, UN says

14 March 2008
More than 100 million Europeans still lack access to safe drinking water, resulting in the deaths from diarrhoea of nearly 40 children every day, the United Nations reported today, noting that many people across the region do not enjoy the basic human right to healthy water.
General Assembly Hall

General Assembly calls for removal of Armenian forces from Nagorno-Karabakh

14 March 2008
The General Assembly today adopted a resolution on the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in which it called for the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian forces “from all the occupied territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan.”
UN armoured vehicle at an observation post near Skouriotissa

Cypriot leaders agree to direct talks under UN auspices later this month

12 March 2008
The Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders have agreed to hold direct talks under United Nations auspices in Nicosia on 21 March, the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) announced today.

Former Bosnian Croat leaders refused temporary leave by UN war crimes tribunal

11 March 2008
The United Nations tribunal set up to deal with the worst war crimes committed during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s today overturned last month’s decision to grant provisional release to five former senior Bosnian Croat figures who are currently on trial.

War crimes trial of former top Croatian generals begins at UN tribunal

11 March 2008
The trial of three former senior Croatian generals accused of murdering, persecuting and displacing ethnic Serbs during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s got under way at a United Nations war crimes tribunal today.
Foreign Affairs Minister Vuk Jeremic of Serbia briefs Security Council

UN mission must continue control over Kosovo, Serbia tells Security Council

11 March 2008
The situation on the ground in Kosovo has deteriorated since its Provisional Institutions of Self-Government declared independence last month, Serbia’s Foreign Minister told the Security Council today, calling for Belgrade and Pristina to meet again to try to work out a different resolution to their dispute over Kosovo’s status.

Appointment of Latvian judge boosts ranks on UN tribunal for the Balkan wars

10 March 2008
A Latvian judge was today sworn in before the United Nations tribunal set up to deal with the worst crimes committed during the Balkan wars of the 1990s so that the court can handle more of its remaining workload.