Balkan
countries must do more to help Roma, refugees and displaced
people – UN report
28 June – Balkan countries aspiring to join the European Union
(EU) must do more to help Roma, refugees and internally displaced
persons (IDPs), but assistance must target the whole community
or risk isolating these impoverished and marginalized groups
further, according to a new United Nations report.FULL
STORY>>
With
‘steady progress’ in Kosovo, UN envoy calls for early status
decision
20 June – Citing steady progress in minority protection and
refugee returns in Kosovo, a top United Nations envoy called
today for an early resolution of the question of the final political
status of the Albanian-majority Serbian province, which has
been run by the UN since Western forces drove out Yugoslav troops
in 1999 amid ethnic fighting.FULL
STORY>>
Top
UN envoy in Kosovo postpones municipal elections for up to one
year
16 June – The top United Nations envoy in Kosovo today postponed
municipal elections for up to 12 months so that full attention
can be devoted to talks to decide the status of the Albanian-majority
Serbian province, which the UN has run ever since Western forces
drove out Yugoslav troops in 1999 amid grave rights abuses in
ethnic fighting.FULL
STORY>>
Kosovo:
UN refugee agency remains concerned at persecution risk for
minorities
16 June – While removing two Roma communities from the list
of people considered at risk in Kosovo, the United Nations refugee
agency remains concerned for more than 400,000 Serbs, other
Roma and Albanians who could face persecution if they returned
to places where they are a minority in the multi-ethnic Serbian
province.FULL
STORY>>
Kosovo:
senior UN official opens talks in Serbia on refugee returns
14 June – A senior United Nations official opened talks in Serbia
today on the return of Serb refugees to Kosovo, a crucial factor
in deciding the final status of the Albanian-majority Serbian
province which the world body has run ever since Western forces
drove out Yugoslav troops in 1999 amid grave rights abuses in
ethnic fighting.FULL
STORY>>
Kosovo:
parties still remain far apart in deciding future status, Annan
reports
13 June – Despite some progress in talks to decide the final
status of Kosovo, the parties remain far apart and compromise
is crucial, Secretary-General Kofi Annan says in his latest
report on the Albanian-majority Serbian province, which the
United Nations has run since Western forces drove out Yugoslav
troops in 1999 amid ethnic fighting.FULL
STORY>>
Top UN envoy in Kosovo
announces his decision to quit his post
12 June – The top United Nations envoy in Kosovo, Soren Jessen-Petersen,
today announced that he will be leaving his post at the end
of this month, saying his time in the province had given him
“a great deal of hope for the future of Kosovo.” FULL
STORY>>
Montenegro,
world’s newest country, to get UN help with refugee problem
6 June – With the world’s youngest country, Montenegro,
still saddled with thousands of refugees and internally displaced
persons (IDPs) from its former union with Serbia, victims of
the various Balkan conflicts of the 1990s, the United Nations
refugee agency has pledged continuing help in providing protection
and assistance.FULL
STORY>>
Serbia,
Kosovo and UN sign accord to promote return of displaced
6 June – Representatives of the Serbian and Kosovo Governments
today signed an agreement to speed up the return of people displaced
by ethnic conflict in the Serbian province, which the United
Nations has administered ever since Western forces drove out
Yugoslav troops in 1999 amid grave human rights abuses. FULL
STORY>>
Kosovo:
UN envoy calls on donors to fund return of those displaced by
conflict
5 June – The top United Nations envoy in Kosovo is calling
on donors to fund the return of refugees and internally displaced
persons (IDPs), a vital step in ensuring stability in the Albanian-majority
Serbian province that the UN has run ever since Western forces
drove out Yugoslav troops in 1999 amid grave rights abuses in
ethnic fighting. FULL
STORY>>
Kosovo: UN hails moves
to boost returns of people displaced by conflict
1 June – The top United Nations envoy in Kosovo today
hailed moves to speed up the return of both refugees and internally
displaced persons (IDPs), an essential step on the path to deciding
the final status of the Albanian-majority Serbian province,
which the world body has run ever since Western forces drove
out Yugoslav troops in 1999 amid grave rights abuses in ethnic
fighting. FULL
STORY>>
