Europe

Dresden

Tunnel, not bridge, should be constructed at German World Heritage site – UN

7 March 2008
An expert team from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today is recommending that a tunnel be constructed – and not a bridge, as currently planned – to preserve the World Heritage status of the Dresden Elbe Valley in German.

Solving the Cyprus problem also makes economic sense, says UN envoy

6 March 2008
The inability of many Cypriots to project what the positive elements of a settlement might look like in the future is holding back efforts to obtain a lasting solution to the dispute on the Mediterranean island, the senior United Nations envoy to Cyprus said today.

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia wants to solve name issue – UN envoy

5 March 2008
The leadership of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is committed to solving its dispute with Greece over the “name issue,” the United Nations envoy dealing with the subject said today after holding another round of talks in Skopje.

Cyprus: UN prepares for direct talks between leaders

5 March 2008
The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has started preparations for direct talks between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders.
Joachim Rücker, Special Representative of the Secretary-General

UN mission reasserts its control over stretch of rail line in northern Kosovo

4 March 2008
The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) today reasserted control of a rail line in northern Kosovo, a day after Serbian Railways had challenged its authority over the stretch.

Bosnian Serb politician convicted by UN tribunal to serve jail term in Denmark

4 March 2008
A prominent former Bosnian Serb political figure convicted by a United Nations war crimes tribunal for his role in the ethnic cleansing that took place during the Balkan wars of the 1990s will serve the remainder of his 30-year jail term in Denmark.

Ban Ki-moon calls for equal scrutiny of all countries by UN human rights organ

3 March 2008
Opening the seventh session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva today, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on its members to ensure that all nations are held equally accountable for the protection of rights as the new body begins its first-ever universal review of their performance.

Three extra judges to serve on UN tribunal for the Balkan wars

3 March 2008
Three temporary judges were today sworn in before the United Nations war crimes tribunal set up to deal with the worst crimes committed during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s so that the court can handle more trials simultaneously.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Deadly clashes during protests in Armenia alarm Secretary-General Ban

3 March 2008
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced his deep concern about the deadly clashes between demonstrators and police forces in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, where the results of recent presidential elections have been disputed.

Greece, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia still at odds on name issue – UN

3 March 2008
A substantial gap remains between the positions of Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on the official name of the latter country, despite their willingness to continue the process of negotiations, the United Nations envoy on the issue reports after the latest round of talks.