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| Sir Julian R. Hunte, President of the 57th Session of the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly (l) with H.E. Kofi Annan, the seventh U.N. Secretary-General (2004) |
COUNCIL OF PRESIDENTS COUNSEIL DES PRESIDENTS
OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
DE L’ASSEMBLEE GENERALE
OF THE UNITED NATIONS DES NATIONS UNIES
STATEMENT
SIR JULIAN R. HUNTE, CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL OF PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY (CPGA)
ON THE PASSING OF
KOFI ATTA ANNAN
THE SEVENTH SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
On behalf of the Council of Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly, and
on my own behalf, I wish to join with millions across our planet in expressing deep
condolences on the passing of Kofi Atta Annan, the former Secretary-General of the
United Nations, who has joined the ancestors.
Kofi Annan was a proud son of Africa, and had an illustrious and highly distinguished
career at the United Nations, spanning the areas of world health, peacekeeping, and
other important areas of peace, security and development. He was elected by the
member States of the General Assembly as the seventh Secretary-General of the
United Nations in 1997.
During his tenure as Secretary-General, he steered the institution with great
distinction for over a decade. Of the many initiatives under his direction was the
introduction of the Global Compact as a principle-based framework aimed at
advancing world human development. This groundbreaking work preceded the
emergence of the Millennium Development Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals.
His work was rewarded with the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize.
Upon demitting office in 2006, he continued to contribute to the cause of world peace
and development through the establishment of the Kofi Annan Foundation in the
further promotion of global governance; and as Chairman of the Elders, the
distinguished group of elder statesmen involved in conflict resolution and the
promotion of human rights. He also served as United Nations and Arab League Envoy
to Syria after his tenure as Secretary-General came to a close. In 2006, he was
appointed to investigate the Rohingya Crisis in Myanmar.
As president of the 58th Session of the United Nations General Assembly from Saint
Lucia, I had the distinct honour to work closely with Kofi Annan in initiatives to
strengthen the role of the General Assembly as the most representative body within
the U.N. family.
Kofi Annan personified the best of the United Nations. He was the consummate
world diplomat and gentleman. He devoted his life towards finding solutions to the
myriad issues facing the people of our world. As Secretary-General, he raised
significantly the level of importance of the United Nations in addressing the global challenges to peace, security and sustainable development.
He will be sorely missed, but he leaves behind a legacy which should serve as a
roadmap for the sustainable development of our planet.
