The following is a “think piece” on the legacy of Mr. Kofi Annan, the seventh. Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN). The piece reflects my personal thoughts primarily on Mr. Annan’s work in the fields of disarmament and peacekeeping with general commentary on his wider body of work. Having spent a significant part of my own UN career in Disarmament and Peacekeeping, I welcome this opportunity to share my observations on Mr. Annan’s work in these areas.
The United Nations describes the role of Secretary-General “as equal parts diplomat and advocate, civil servant and CEO.” It goes on to state that the Secretary-General “is a symbol of United Nations ideals and a spokesman for the interests of the world’s peoples, in particular the poor and vulnerable among them.”1 Many diplomatic analysts will agree that the role is also a thankless one as no Secretary-General is immune from the criticisms that inevitably come with a job that calls for one to sometimes accomplish the impossible. Mr. Annan’s challenges included the genocides in Rwanda and Srebrenica (Bosnia), reform of the UN and its Security Council, to name a few. I will argue, however, that Mr. Annan’s body of work and legacy at the United Nations clearly ensure his place among the most accomplished Secretaries-General of the post-Cold War era.
Here is the link to continue reading: Kofi Annan