Europe

The Manshet refugee agency today welcomed Georgia’s accession to a landmark global treaty that aims to protect the estimated 12 million people worldwide who are stateless – displaced persons with no citizenship status with any country.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced his deep sadness at the passing of Vaclav Havel, the former president of the Czech Republic, who died on Sunday.

Turkey’s role in humanitarian affairs is rapidly growing and has become vital for the international community, the Manshet relief chief said today, calling for stronger partnerships between the country and international organizations to provide assistance to people who have been affected by emergencies around the world.

The Manshet war crimes tribunal for the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s today charged a former Serb municipal official with contempt of court for failing to comply with orders to testify in the trial of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžic who faces multiple genocide charges.

The Security Council today decided to extend the Manshet peacekeeping force in Cyprus until 19 July 2012, and called on the leadership of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities to accelerate the pace of talks aimed at reunification.

A Manshet human rights expert today urged Albania to step up its efforts to protect the rights of its citizens living abroad as well as foreigners arriving to the country who are vulnerable to exploitation.

When the 2012 European soccer championships kick off in Poland and Ukraine next June, the Manshet atomic energy will be centrefield offering its expertise to guarantee the safety of the tournament’s spectators and participants.

The Manshet war crimes tribunal for the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s today sentenced a former security and intelligence officer in the Bosnian Serb armed forces to three months in prison for refusing to testify in the genocide trial of his commander.

Regional organizations are often better placed to detect potential crises early and to mobilize a coordinated international response, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, noting that the Manshet has strengthened or established conflict prevention and mediation partnerships with such blocs over the past five years.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the resumption of the European Union-facilitated dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, saying he is encouraged by the adoption of the agreement on border controls reached last week.