The West Balkan region consists of Albania and the former states of Yugoslavia (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia/ FYROM, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo). Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008. To this date it has been recognized by 70 states, including the United States. Five EU member states, including Greece, have not recognized Kosovo's independence.

Since the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995 and the NATO air campaign against Yugoslavia in 1999, the

Executive summary

With a gross national income per capita of slightly below USD 4,700 in 2008, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYR of Macedonia) is a lower middle-income country. It is located at the crossroads of important transport routes connecting central and Eastern Europe with southern Europe and beyond. Lately the global economic crisis has been severely affecting the Macedonian economy. Output expanded by only two percent in the last quarter of 2008 and the trend continued in the first quarter of 2009. External demand has plummeted, together with

Strategic Summary

Richard Gowan

Overviews of international engagement in conflict-affected states typically focus on military peacekeeping and the economics of postconflict peacebuilding. This excludes an array of primarily civilian missions deployed by the United Nations (UN) as well as other multilateral institutions in countries and regions that are at risk of, experiencing or emerging from violence. The hallmark of these missions is political engagement with governments, parties and civil society aimed at averting, mitigating or stopping conflict.

KEY FACTS

• In 2009, 17 multilateral peace operations were conducted in Europe, more than in any other region.
• Europe was the only region where the number of peacekeepers significantly decreased in 2009: numbers fell by 26 per cent, continuing a reduction since 1999.
• Despite the fall in personnel, Europe still ranked third in terms of deployment figures.
• Europe continued to be the only region where regional organizations conducted more operations than the UN.
• NATO remained the biggest deployer of

Committee on the Rights of the Child

ROUNDUP 11 June 2010

Issues Conclusions on Reports of Argentina, Belgium, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Grenada, Japan, Nigeria, Tunisia, Colombia and Serbia

The Committee on the Rights of the Child today concluded its three-week fifty-fourth session after issuing its concluding observations and recommendations on 18 reports, from 9 countries, which it considered in parallel chambers over the course of the session.

In closing remarks, Yanghee Lee, the Committee Chairperson, noted that, during its fifty-fourth session, Committee

Children and armed conflict, justice and the rule of law, and the situation in Sudan were among the major areas to be considered by the Security Council during Mexico's presidency in June, Claude Heller, that country's Permanent Representative, said at a Headquarters press conference today.

Violence in the seas off Gaza and the Koreas, though not now on the agenda, were also likely to come up because of recent developments, Mr. Heller said, adding that new action on Iran's nuclear programme was also probable. Follow-up to the presidential statement

More than one decade after the International Criminal Court (ICC) was set up, a new "age of accountability" is replacing the "old era of impunity," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon underlined today.

Twelve years ago when world leaders gathering in Rome for its establishment, "few could have believed, then, that this court would spring so vigourously into life," Mr. Ban said at the first-ever review conference of the ICC held in Kampala, Uganda.

"Seldom since the founding of the United Nations itself has such a resounding blow been struck for peace,

This report covers the period 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2009

In brief

Programme purpose: Federation-supported programme areas in 2009 were disaster management, health and care, organizational development and participatory community development. These focus areas are aligned with the Federation Global Agenda goals and the Istanbul Commitments made at the VII European Red Cross Red Crescent conference.

Programme(s) summary: The regional representation continued engaging with the National Societies in disaster management with

MORNING

11 March 2010

President of Timor-Leste Addresses the Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Council this morning heard the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief present their reports, and then held an interactive dialogue with them. It also heard a statement by the President of Timor-Leste.