World President: Annan

Author: Si Ren
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: He is low-key in his actions, graceful in demeanor, has a deep voice, yet always shows firm determination. – Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Secretary of State
He is exceptionally intelligent, elegant, and very quiet. – A former diplomat
He possesses the charm of a mature and successful man. He is a natural orator. – Zhu Dan, female graduate student at Tsinghua University
Annan solves problems with extraordinary demeanor and boundless wisdom, making him a great unifier. – Tony Blair, British Prime Minister
He is the most outstanding Secretary-General the United Nations has had since its establishment. – Richard Holbrooke, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
Kofi A. Annan was born on April 8, 1938, in Kumasi, Ghana. He studied at the Kumasi Technical Institute in Ghana in his early years and later attended the United States and Switzerland for further studies, earning a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Macalester College in Minnesota, U.S., and a Master's degree in Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Annan joined the United Nations in 1962 and worked in various departments, including the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the United Nations Headquarters, the United Nations Office at Geneva, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the World Health Organization. After the 1974 Middle Eastern "October War," he served as the Civilian Commissioner of the United Nations Emergency Force in Cairo. In the early 1980s, Annan returned to the United Nations Headquarters and held leadership positions in the Human Resources and Finance Departments. In 1986, he was promoted to Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, overseeing the Department of Human Resources.
After the 1990 Gulf War, Annan was responsible for negotiations with Iraq to secure the release of UN and other international organization staff held hostage. He later led a UN team in negotiations with Iraq for the "Oil for Food" program. In March 1993, Annan was appointed Deputy Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, overseeing UN peacekeeping efforts worldwide. He served as the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the former Yugoslavia and as a Special Envoy to NATO, coordinating relations among relevant countries.
On December 17, 1996, the 51st Session of the UN General Assembly appointed Annan as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations. He officially took office on January 1, 1997, for a five-year term. In June 2001, the General Assembly approved the Security Council's nomination for Annan to serve a second term, ending on December 31, 2006.
During his tenure as Secretary-General, Annan visited Baghdad in 1998 to mediate and resolve the Iraqi weapons inspection crisis. In October 2001, Annan and the United Nations were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In March 2005, an independent investigation committee led by former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker published a report stating that Annan had no involvement in corruption during the implementation of the "Oil for Food" program in Iraq.
Annan is an experienced diplomat who speaks English, French, and several African languages. He speaks gently, has a straightforward personality, treats others with sincerity, remains calm, and possesses a sense of humor. Kofi Annan is one of the most brilliant figures on the international political stage today. Since his assumption of office, he has excellently fulfilled the duties of the Secretary-General, playing a crucial role in reforming the United Nations, maintaining world peace, and addressing various crises facing humanity. His selfless dedication and extraordinary abilities have been widely praised by the international community.
On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the United Nations, we compiled the book "World President – Annan" to express our respect for this "most outstanding Secretary-General the United Nations has had since its establishment."