Current Affairs

Following the death of former United Nations chief and Nobel laureate Kofi Annan, there was an outpouring of condolences from leaders around the world on Saturday after his passing.

Here are some of the tributes:

United Nations

Current UN chief Antonio Guterres described Annan as “a guiding force for good”.

“In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations. He rose through the ranks to lead the organisation into the new millennium with matchless dignity and determination. Like so many, I was proud to call Kofi Annan a good friend and mentor.”

Annan’s successor Ban Ki-moon said he “will always be remembered and respected for his vision and courage to keep the principle and idea of the United Nations”.

The UN high commissioner for human rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein described him as a “friend to thousands and a leader of millions”.

Ghana
President Nana Akufo-Addo declared a week of mourning for “one of our greatest compatriots”.

“He brought considerable renown to our country by this position and through his conduct and comportment in the global arena. He was an ardent believer in the capacity of the Ghanaian to chart his or her own course onto the path of progress and prosperity.”

United States

“Kofi Annan devoted his life to making the world a more peaceful place through his compassion and dedication to service,” the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, said on Twitter.

“He worked tirelessly to unite us and never stopped fighting for the dignity of every person.”

Former president Barack Obama said Annan “embodied the mission of the United Nations like few others”.

“His integrity, persistence, optimism, and sense of our common humanity always informed his outreach to the community of nations. Long after he had broken barriers, Kofi never stopped his pursuit of a better world, and made time to motivate and inspire the next generation of leaders.”

European Union

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said the “greatest recognition we can give Kofi Annan is to keep his legacy and his spirit alive”.

“He devoted his life to making the world a more peaceful and united place. He fought to end suffering and injustices across the world and helped to rebuild bridges where they had been destroyed.”

Russia

In a statement, President Vladimir Putin said “I sincerely admired his wisdom and courage, his ability to make informed decisions even in the most complex, critical situations. His memory will live forever in the hearts of Russians.”

NATO

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said “the UN and the world have lost one of their giants”.

United Kingdom

“A great leader and reformer of the UN, he made a huge contribution to making the world he has left a better place than the one he was born into,” British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Twitter.

Former prime minister Tony Blair said his “good friend” was a “great diplomat, a true statesman and a wonderful colleague who was widely respected and will be greatly missed”.

Kenya

Both key figures in the deadly turmoil that followed Kenya’s 2008 election paid tribute to Annan, who helped mediate an end to the violence.

Former president Mwai Kibaki said Annan “will be remembered for mediating for the return of peace in Kenya”.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga hailed “what became known as ‘the Annan Doctrine’ in which he made it clear that the need to respect sovereignty cannot be used as a shield by governments to brutalise their own citizens and that the international community has a right to intervene”.

South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa praised Annan as a “great leader and diplomat extraordinaire” who had advanced the African agenda within the UN and had “flown the flag for peace” around the world.

Retired South African archbishop Desmond Tutu described Annan as “an outstanding human being who represented our continent and the world with enormous graciousness, integrity and distinction”.

Zimbabwe

“A rare breed of diplomat; soft spoken but unshakeably firm,” tweeted Nelson Chamisa, the main opposition leader in Zimbabwe – where Annan visited days before the July election.

Germany

Chancellor Angela Merkel hailed the “exceptional statesman in the service of the global community”. Annan “inspired me and many others with his ideas, his firm convictions and his charisma”.

France

“We will never forget his calm and resolute approach, nor the strength of his fighting spirit,” President Emmanuel Macron tweeted.

The Elders

The Elders – a group of statesmen co-founded by Annan which speaks out on global issues – hailed him as “a voice of great authority and wisdom in public and private”.
“The world has lost an inspiring figure – but one whose achievements will never be forgotten, and whose commitment to peace and justice will endure to inspire future generations,” deputy chair Gro Harlem Brundtland said in a statement.

Source: AFP