Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annanis a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1997 to December 2006. Annan and the United Nations were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize "for their work for a better organized and more peaceful world." He is the founder and the Chairman of the Kofi Annan Foundation, as well as being the chairman of The Elders, a group founded by Nelson Mandela...
NationalityGhanaian
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth8 April 1938
CityKumasi, Ghana
CountryGhana
Kofi Annan quotes about
consensus essence less nations needed responsibility share today wealthy
What is needed today is nothing less than a new consensus between alliances that are frayed, between wealthy nations and poor. The essence of that consensus is simple: We all share responsibility for each other's security.
adapt change clear decide decisions disappoint expect friend leading nations people priorities prompt reflected united
We need to decide our priorities. And we must adapt our United Nations so that in the future, those priorities are reflected in clear and prompt decisions leading to real change in people's lives. That my friend is what the people expect of us -- let us not disappoint them.
attention face few grace nations officials past pressure several united virtually
Few United Nations officials have demonstrated the calm, grace and professionalism that you have in the face of virtually unprecedented pressure and attention over the past several months.
entered insecurity nations regardless threats wealth
New threats make no distinction between races, nations or regions. A new insecurity has entered every mind, regardless of wealth or status.
basis country eager efforts human justice nations principles problems region resolve side stress united universal wish
I wish to stress that the United Nations is eager to be at your side in the efforts to resolve the problems of your country and the region on the basis of universal principles of peace, justice and human rights,
action expect members nations program summit united
I would expect the summit to come up with a program of action not just for the United Nations but also for the members states,
adapt changed commitment given member nations president pursue relevant simply states tasks united wants
Simply put, what the United Nations wants is what the U.S. also wants: a reformed United Nations that is effective, efficient, leaner and relevant to the tasks that member states want to set for us, ... The world has changed and we have to change, we have to adapt and I have given my commitment to the president that I will pursue reforms.
cannot clear nations northern quite turkish united
made it quite clear that the United Nations cannot condone the Turkish incursion into northern Iraq.
absolutely control nations otherwise police united
Let me be absolutely clear: the United Nations does not want to take over, police or otherwise control the Internet,
based downward ending escape lies nations peaceful present relevant spiral united violence
The only way to escape from the present downward spiral lies through ending the violence and resuming negotiations aimed at comprehensive peaceful settlement based on relevant United Nations resolutions,
coherence dedicated ensure entity involved nations parts sustain system united
While many parts of the United Nations have been involved in the peace-building process, the system has lacked a dedicated entity to oversee the process, ensure its coherence or sustain it through the long haul.
arbitrary cuba decision mission nations permanent protest state strongly united wishes
The permanent mission of Cuba to the United Nations wishes to protest strongly at the arbitrary decision and to state that it disagrees completely with the pretexts given.
balance delicate latin microcosm nations peril promise region stands therefore tremendous truly united urgent ways yours
When I think of the delicate balance of tremendous promise and urgent peril in today's world, I think particularly of the nations of Latin America, ... Because yours is a region that truly hangs in that delicate balance. It is in many ways a microcosm of the world in which we live, and it is therefore a place in which all that the United Nations stands for is put to test.
complete nations reform security united view
Two years ago, I declared that in my view no reform of the United Nations would be complete without reform of the Security Council. That is still my belief,