Europe

African swine fever reaches northern Russia. FAO is concerned as pig disease jumps from southern Russia to the Baltic.
FAO/Jon Spaull

UN warns of risk of African swine fever in Caucasus region

21 August 2012
FFollowing the first-ever detection of African swine fever (ASF)in Ukraine, the United Nations is warning that while control measures appear to have temporarily halted the disease's spread, it has established a firm foothold in the Caucasus and poses an ongoing risk to neighbouring areas.
Special Representative Farid Zarif.
UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

Kosovo: UN envoy calls for 'creative, bold' approach to tough political issues

21 August 2012
Following a visit to the Balkans by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last month, his representative for Kosovo today called on the Security Council to encourage leaders in Serbia and Kosovo to take a bolder approach to core political issues facing the region, while putting in place agreed-upon measures on practical matters.
Courtroom 1 of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
ICTY

UN war crimes tribunal transfers Serb official to Portugal to serve 20-year sentence

17 August 2012
A former Serb military official was transferred to Portugal to serve a 20-year sentence for crimes committed against non-Serb prisoners of war, the United Nations war crimes tribunal set up in the wake of the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s announced today.
Young forcibly-displaced Roma from south-east Europe. Many have no citizenship which affects their daily lives.
UNHCR/L. Taylor

UN experts urge States to confront modern-day hatred, violence against Roma

2 August 2012
Two independent United Nations human rights experts today called on all countries, particularly those with Roma communities, to confront modern-day hatred, violence and discrimination against this group and find solutions to their persistent exclusion.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (centre) visits the memorial in Srebrenica for the 1995 massacre of 8,000 Muslim men and boys by Bosnian Serb forces.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

World must learn from Srebrenica massacre, stop bloodshed in Syria – Ban

26 July 2012
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today paid his respects to the victims of Srebrenica and called on the world to learn the lessons from the 1995 massacre and stop the ongoing bloodshed in Syria.
UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner (right) beside UK Secretary of State Caroline Spelman at the Olympic Park in London.
UNEP

UN official hails United Kingdom’s measures to make Olympics sustainable

26 July 2012
A senior United Nations official today praised the measures taken by the United Kingdom to ensure that the London Summer Olympic Games are environmentally sustainable.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (right) and Matthew Nimetz, his Personal Envoy for the talks between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
UN Photo/Evan Schneider

Ban urges Greece and former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to resolve name issue

25 July 2012
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said that it is “imperative” that Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia resolve the dispute over the official name of the latter country, and reiterated the determination of the United Nations to help with the process.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
UN Photo/JC McIlwaine

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ban notes country’s progress and affirms UN support

25 July 2012
Highlighting the progress that Bosnia and Herzegovina has made over the past two decades, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today affirmed the support of the United Nations in the country’s path to stability and prosperity.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. UN/M. Garten

On visit, Ban notes importance of normalized relations between Kosovo and Serbia

24 July 2012
Continuing his visit to South-East Europe, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed the importance of dialogue and engagement across the region, highlighting the importance of the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivers a lecture for the Academy for Political Development in Croatia.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Ban praises Croatia's progress on its 20th anniversary as member of UN

21 July 2012
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today praised Croatia's achievements since it first became a member of the United Nations 20 years ago, and stressed that the Eastern European nation can help support other countries which are currently in transition.