World leaders mourn Kofi Annan's death
August 18, 2018
Leaders across the world expressed their condolences following the death of Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who passed away on Saturday morning in Bern, Switzerland, at the age of 80. World leaders praised Annan's contributions and expressed their admiration for the longtime UN statesman.
Antonio Guterres, the current UN chief, described his predecessor as "a guiding force for good."
"In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations…He rose through the ranks to lead the organization into the new millennium with matchless dignity and determination," Guterres said.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the UN and the world had "lost one of their giants."
"His warmth should never be mistaken for weakness. Annan showed that one can be a great humanitarian and a strong leader at the same time," Stoltenberg wrote on Twitter.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a statement that she was "very sad" about Annan's passing, adding that the Nobel laureate was a "distinguished statesman" who had served the world community.
"Kofi Annan inspired me and many others with his ideas, his firm convictions and, not least, his charisma," Merkel said. She emphasized that Annan shaped the UN "like hardly anyone before him," adding that "he knew how to spark enthusiasm, particularly among young people."
French President Emmanuel Macron paid homage to Annan on behalf of France. "We will never forget his calm and resolute approach, nor the strength of his fighting spirit," Macron wrote on his Twitter account.
Former US President Barack Obama memorialized Annan's contributions in a heartfelt statement. "Heading the UN at a difficult time, he did a great deal to realize the purposes and the goals of the organization, strengthening its central role in world affairs," Obama said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin lauded Annan's devoted service to the UN, contributions to peacekeeping efforts and conflict resolution. "I sincerely admired his wisdom and courage as well as his ability to make balanced decisions even under the most dire and critical circumstances," Putin said. "Russians will keep the memory of him forever."
Read more: Remembering Kofi Annan: A smooth negotiator
Kenyan opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga said he had "fond memories" of Annan, who brokered a power-sharing deal to calm tensions in Kenya, following postelection violence in 2007 that led to more than 1,000 deaths.
"I wish to express deep gratitude and appreciation of Dr. Annan for his dedicated and tireless work in stabilizing the world and encouraging Africa to aspire to higher ideals of democracy, respect for human rights and sound governance as the path to sustainable peace and economic development," Odinga said in a post on his Facebook page.
Ghana mourns one of its own
In Ghana, Annan's home country, President Nana Akufo-Addo declared a week of mourning and directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast at home and in the diplomatic missions around the world to honor of "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," Akufo-Addo said.
Annan was born in Ghana's Ashanti heartland, two decades before the country became the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence. He spent almost his entire career at the UN, where Africa played a major role in his work.
jcg/ng (AP, Reuters)