Europe

Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria Ursula Plassnik

Austria exhorts UN to take lead in fight to reduce violence against women

26 September 2008
The United Nations must take lead in global efforts to eliminate violence against women by setting clear reduction targets and establishing a network so that countries can exchange their best ideas for the cause, Austria told the General Assembly today.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

British leader issues call at UN for new financial order to end market turmoil

26 September 2008
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom today called for a new global financial system to bring an end to the current economic turmoil, laying out five principles on which the order should be based as he addressed the General Assembly’s annual high-level debate.
Geir H. Haarde, Prime Minister of Iceland

Iceland urges school curricula worldwide to highlight work of UN

26 September 2008
Iceland today called for the work of the United Nations to be included on the school curriculum in every Member State of the Organization, saying this offers an effective method of spreading the world body’s multilateral ideals to future leaders.
Foreign Minister Franco Frattini of Italy

Italy says UN must continue to lead efforts to resolve global food crisis

26 September 2008
The United Nations should be at the forefront of efforts to tackle the global food crisis, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told the General Assembly tonight, saying the world body’s agencies are best placed to both alleviate hunger and guarantee food security.
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany

Current global crises require multilateral solutions, Germany tells UN

26 September 2008
Key issues facing the world today – ranging from bringing stability to Afghanistan and Pakistan, promoting peace in the Middle East and achieving disarmament – can only be solved by having all of the world’s nations pool their efforts, Germany’s Foreign Affairs Minister told the General Assembly today.
President Branko Crvenkoski of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Agreement on name possible, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia tells UN

25 September 2008
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is ready to accept “a fair compromise” in its long-running dispute with Greece over its official name, so long as it does not deny its national and cultural identity, President Branko Crvenkoski told the General Assembly today.
Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister of Norway

Failure to reduce maternal mortality rates shames us all, Norway tells UN

25 September 2008
The world’s failure to make substantial inroads in reducing the number of women who die in pregnancy or childbirth is a damning illustration of the wider treatment of women, Norway’s Prime Minister told the General Assembly tonight.
Viktor Yushchenko, President of Ukraine

Ukraine proposes new UN body tasked with ecological protection

24 September 2008
A new United Nations entity that has authority for ecological protection around the world should be set up, Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko told the annual high-level debate of the General Assembly today.
Aníbal António Cavaco Silva, President of Portugal

Portugal and Slovenia call for greater representation on Security Council

24 September 2008
The leaders of Portugal and Slovenia today called for the membership of the Security Council to be expanded, saying broader representation is needed to ensure effective multilateralism in dealing with the biggest global challenges.
Dimitris Christofias, President of the Republic of Cyprus

Cyprus: UN plays key role in determining future, General Assembly hears

24 September 2008
The United Nations plays a crucial role in helping the Mediterranean island of Cyprus move forward towards a “bizonal, bicommunal federation” through its assistance in inter-Cypriot negotiations and its definition of the framework of the future Cypriot State, President Demetris Christofias told the General Assembly today.