Robert McMahon

Also by Robert McMahon

• November 24, 2004

  UN Group Sets Date For Abkhaz Talks

  United Nations, 24 November (RFE/RL) -- A group of states seeking to facilitate the peace process between Georgia and its separatist Republic of Abkhazia has confirmed it will hold a meeting of senior representatives next month in Geneva.

• November 24, 2004

  Azerbaijan: Baku Tells General Assembly Of Armenian Settlement Activity

  Azerbaijan's foreign minister has urged the UN General Assembly to adopt a resolution expressing concern over alleged Armenian settlements in territories seized 10 years ago. Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told the assembly that thousands of ethnic Armenians have resettled in Azerbaijani districts near the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. But Armenia's UN ambassador denied any such activities. He told the assembly that the bid for a UN resolution could undermine an ongoing process directed by the OSCE.

• November 23, 2004

  Nagorno-Karabakh: UN General Assembly To Discuss Occupation Of Azerbaijani Land

  Azerbaijan is hoping a proposed UN General Assembly resolution on its occupied territory will help resolve a key impediment to peace talks with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh. The resolution, to be discussed today (eds: 1600 Prague time), calls for reaffirming Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and seeks an investigation into Azerbaijani claims Armenia is promoting a settlement policy in the occupied lands. Armenia denies this and has said such a resolution could undermine the peace process.

• November 19, 2004

  Turkmenistan: UN Panel Expresses 'Grave Concern' At Abuses

  A UN General Assembly committee has approved a resolution expressing "grave concern" at human rights abuses in Turkmenistan. The resolution cites repression of political opposition activities and harassment of people seeking freedom of expression, including local correspondents of Radio Liberty. But the measure also sought to acknowledge recent steps by Turkmenistan to cooperate with international rights monitors. The country's foreign minister denied the most serious charges in the resolution.

• November 19, 2004

  Belarus: Minsks Avoids UN Resolution On Its Human Rights Record

  Belarus has avoided a vote on a proposed UN General Assembly resolution alleging serious violations of human rights by the government. The assembly's Human Rights Committee -- divided over the tactic of single-country resolutions -- voted to adjourn the discussion through a "no-action motion," marking a setback to the European Union and United States, which sponsored the original measure. The no-action motion effectively quashes discussion of Belarus's rights record during this assembly session.

• November 18, 2004

  Iran: Country Faces New UN General Assembly Censure On Human Rights

  A UN General Assembly committee has voted to condemn human rights abuses in Iran, citing a crackdown on media, use of torture, and discrimination against women. The assembly's human rights committee approved a resolution calling on Iran to take steps such as judicial and penitentiary reforms and eliminating all forms of discrimination based on religious grounds. Iran called the charges baseless and gained the support of many developing states. But the measure is expected to be approved by the full General Assembly in December.

• November 17, 2004

  UN Panel Calls For Human Rights Reform In Iran

  United Nations, 17 November 2004 (RFE/RL) -- A UN General Assembly committee has voted to condemn human rights abuses in Iran, citing a crackdown on media, use of torture, and discrimination against women.

• November 16, 2004

  Former Yugoslavia: President Of War Crimes Tribunal Says Funding Problems Serious

  Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has not yet been to The Hague The president of the war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia says funding problems are threatening the body's work at a crucial time. Judge Theodore Meron told the UN General Assembly that the tribunal has lost more than 100 staff members -- 10 percent of its strength -- due to a hiring freeze caused by the funding shortfall. Meron said the tribunal's work has also been hampered by a continuing lack of cooperation from the Republika Srpska and Belgrade, where most of the 20 fugitive war criminal suspects are presumed to be living.

• November 12, 2004

  Bosnia-Herzegovina: Ashdown Presses Bosnian Serbs On War Crimes Cooperation

  The international community's high representative for Bosnia says the leaders of the Bosnian Serb entity must improve cooperation with the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague. Paddy Ashdown told the UN Security Council that Republika Srpska's failure to hand over a single indictee in the past nine years poses a major obstacle to Bosnia's plans to join the European Union and NATO. Bosnia's foreign minister says it now has the institutions to help track down war crimes indictees. Ashdown's comments overshadowed his generally positive assessment of reforms in Bosnia.

• November 10, 2004

  Afghanistan: UN Peacekeeping Chief Warns Against Complacency

  Karzai still has much to do to ensure security ahead of elections in the spring (file photo) The UN's top peacekeeping official has urged the international community to avoid complacency in Afghanistan in the aftermath of the successful presidential poll. UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Marie Guehenno told the UN Security Council that Afghanistan will require intensified assistance as it prepares for more challenging parliamentary elections in about six months. He cited familiar obstacles -- illicit drug trafficking, local commanders, and limited government control.

• November 09, 2004

  UN Official Warns Against Slowdown In Afghanistan

  United Nations, 9 November 2004 (RFE/RL) -- The UN's top peacekeeping official has urged the international community to avoid complacency in Afghanistan in the aftermath of the successful presidential poll.

• November 05, 2004

  Iraq: UN Says Preparations For On-Time Elections Moving Ahead

  United Nations officials say preparations are advancing to hold national elections on time in Iraq this January. But they say security problems continue to hamper efforts. The UN undersecretary-general for political affairs and the head of the electoral-assistance division told reporters that the UN remains committed to supporting Iraq's efforts to organize the elections. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has cautioned the U.S.-led coalition that an assault on the city of Al-Fallujah, a stronghold of Sunni Muslim insurgents, could hurt elections plans.

• November 05, 2004

  U.S.: Claiming Mandate, Bush Vows To Fulfill Ambitious Program, But Does He Have Support?

  U.S. President George W. Bush says he will forge ahead in his second term with the bold agenda he campaigned on. Chief among his aims are the democratization of Iraq and fundamental changes to the U.S. Social Security system. But to sustain the war in Iraq and maintain an ambitious domestic agenda, analysts say Bush may need to build stronger ties with opposition Democrats than in his first term in office.

• November 04, 2004

  U.S.: Bush, Republicans Bask In Victory, But National Divide Persists

  President George W. Bush has won a second four-year term in office, gaining a larger margin of victory than four years ago but still presiding over a divided nation. Bush vowed to maintain vigorous antiterrorism efforts and help to build democracies in Iraq and Afghanistan. His opponent, John Kerry, made an appeal for unity after the election revealed persisting differences among Americans. Opinion surveys show the Bush campaign's stress on traditional values was as important as concern about terrorism in gaining his reelection.

• November 03, 2004

  U.S.: Bush Declares Victory After Kerry Concedes Hard-Fought Race

  U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney (left) introduces President George W. Bush at his victory rally. New York, 3 November 2004 (RFE/RL) -- U.S. President George W. Bush declared victory tonight following one of the most intensely fought races ever for America's highest office. Bush's narrow win over Democratic Senator John Kerry reflected a divided nation, but analysts say Americans saw Bush as the stronger leader in times of war.

• November 03, 2004

  U.S.: All Eyes On Kerry Campaign As Bush Signals Election Victory

  Senior members of the governing Republican Party say all signs point to U.S. President George W. Bush as the winner of yesterday's presidential vote. White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card said Bush is holding off on a formal victory declaration to give his rival, Democrat John Kerry, "time to reflect" on the results. Card said election officials in the last main undecided state, Ohio, have described the margin in favor of Bush as insurmountable. RFE/RL reports that the election reflected familiar divides in the United States, but Bush appears to have gained decisive support for his antiterror measures.

• November 02, 2004

  Iran: IAEA Chief Urges Suspension Of Uranium-Enrichment Activities

  IAEA head el-Baradei (file photo) The director of the UN's nuclear agency has called on Iran to suspend uranium-enrichment activities to allay international concerns about its nuclear program. Muhammad el-Baradei cited some progress in understanding Iran's nuclear aims but said it is important for Tehran to commit to confidence-building measures. An envoy expressed Iran's willingness to cooperate but stressed its right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. El-Baradei, addressing the UN General Assembly, also raised concerns about what he called an extensive illicit market for the supply of nuclear items.

• November 01, 2004

  U.S.: Americans Finally Set To Vote After Months Of Intense Presidential Race

  Americans go to the polls tomorrow to elect the next president of the United States after months of bruising campaigning by President George W. Bush and his challenger, Senator John Kerry. Bush is seeking re-election and asserts his leadership has made America safer in troubled times. Kerry assails the president's conduct of the war in Iraq and promises a more multilateral foreign policy. Polls show the race is likely to come down to voters in a small number of "swing" states. And experts warn that unfinished electoral reforms and the closeness of the contest may cause confusion similar to the election in 2000.

• October 29, 2004

  Afghanistan: Despite Advances, Rights Expert Raises Alarm At Insecurity

  Women still face vast difficulties in Afghanistan The UN's human rights expert for Afghanistan says lack of security continues to pose the most serious threat to the rights of Afghans and the reconstruction of their society. Cherif Bassiouni told a General Assembly rights committee that warlords, local commanders, and drug traffickers are committing the most violations and that international security forces are not doing enough to restrain them. But he also stressed there are numerous abuses of women and children that are solvable by local authorities.

• October 28, 2004

  Georgia: UN Security Council Concerned At Stalled Abkhaz Peace Process

  The UN Security Council has expressed concern at the absence of dialogue between Georgia and its separatist Abkhaz region. Abkhaz leaders suspended talks in July to protest Georgian maritime actions and the province has since become embroiled in a dispute over its presidential elections. The Security Council issued a statement stressing the need for renewed efforts to reach a lasting political solution and signaled that there would be high-level talks soon to try to advance the process.

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