A gentle mediator between the worlds – Kofi Annan is dead

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For ten years, Kofi Annan was at the top of world politics. Afterwards, he worked as an Ambassador of peace. Now, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, has died at the age of 80 years.

It’s a feeling like on the first day of school, well-known Kofi Annan, on his first day as UN Secretary General. Smiling, the small man with the gray beard stood behind his Desk at the UN headquarters in New York.

The way to the top of the world organisation began in Kumasi, Ghana’s second largest city. In 1938, Kofi Annan came here as the son of a prominent family to the world. His father was for a time even the provincial Governor during the British colonial rule. Thanks to its origin, Kofi Annan, got an excellent education. Then he studied in Ghana and the United States.

Picture-book career at the United Nations

With 24 years of exchange of the United Nations (UN) then follows. His first job was that of an administrative official at the world health organization. The career ladder he climbed in the years to follow, higher and higher: chief of staff at the UN Mission in Cairo, Deputy managing Director of the high Commissioner for refugees in Geneva, Deputy UN Secretary-General. In 1993, the culmination: The former UN chief Boutros Boutros Ghali appointed Kofi Annan to the under-Secretary-General for peacekeeping. So, Kofi was Annan the Lord over 75,000 soldiers around the globe.

The mortal Remains of Victims of the genocide in Rwanda, laid out on 20. Anniversary of the genocide

But now, the career of the Ghanaers got the first scratch: During the genocide in Rwanda in 1994 killed radical Hutu militias, more than 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutu. Already months before, the commander of the UN peacekeeping force in Rwanda, Romeo Dallaire, had warned before the riots and reinforcements for his squad asked. But his boss, Kofi Annan, did not the Ask – probably, because Europe and the United States had no interest in greater involvement in Rwanda. The criticism was harsh. The ten-year day of remembrance of the genocide in 2004, finally, Kofi Annan acknowledged the failure. “The international community failed in Rwanda. This fact must fill us with sorrow and shame.”

Also the massacre of 8,000 Muslims in the Bosnian town of Srebrenica in 1995, weighed heavily on his shoulders. Dutch blue helmets could have prevented the largest war crime in Europe after the Second world war, as he was also looking back.

Restless Peace Broker

His career at the United Nations in fact, the criticism still no crash: pressure from the United States, Kofi Annan, was elected in December 1997 to the Secretary-General – the first representative from the Africa South of the Sahara in the office. Already in his inaugural speech, he made it clear: This Secretary-General wants to be not only chief administrative officer – he wants to make world policy. The fight against global poverty, climate change or AIDS were for Kofi Annan, the same program as the political crises. The UN chief conveyed in the Cyprus conflict, criticized the attacks by Sudanese militias in Darfur and sought to reach an agreement in the nuclear dispute with Iran. Also, the signing of the Millennium development goals in 2000, Annan, self-described as one of the highlights of his term in office.

Awarded the Nobel peace prize on 20.12.2001

The Nobel prize Committee in Oslo recognized the benefits: 2001 Kofi Annan and the UN price received the Nobel peace prize. Kofi Annan was “an outstanding representative of the United Nations, and probably the most effective Secretary-General in the history of the United Nations”, praised the former Chairman of the Nobel Committee, Gunnar Berge, in the DW-Interview the winners. Annan, in his speech of thanks again the modesty flash, for he was at the time a lot of admired in the world. “This award does not go to me alone. He goes to half of my colleagues around the world who have dedicated their lives to the peace, and often their lives for the peace risked or lost.”

A Failed Reformer

While the Public Annan celebrated, he lost in the member countries of the United Nations, however, becoming more and more restraint. In vain Annan tried a basic UN Reform. “The United Nations can fulfil their tasks only if they are brought up with the realities of the present in line,” he said before the General Assembly. But, above all, the opposition of the United States and the other Permanent members of the UN security Council his Plan failed to gain even countries from Africa, Asia and South America a permanent seat in the body.

Under pressure, Annan was also due to his dispute with the United States: US President George Bush, he threw with his attack on Iraq in 2003, the UN Charter is violated. In vain he had tried to prevent the attack through a process of Conciliation. In 2004, the pressure increased, after it became known that money of the UN-programme “Oil for food” had been misappropriated. Also Annan’s son Kojo received payments from a Swiss company, on behalf of the UN deliveries of goods should monitor. A Commission of inquiry exonerated Annan, however, 2005. However, she noted that he and his family have neither “his authority is good enough in the handle”.

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Syria mediator Annan throws (02.08.2012)

Special mediator in the Syria war

After the end of his second term as UN Secretary-General Annan adopted in the year 2007 from the world stage. He took up Offices in various development organizations, and wrote his memoirs. Occasionally, he was back in the spotlight: he mediated between the government and Opposition in Kenya, after the elections at the end of 2007 bloody riots broke out. In February 2013, he was appointed special mediator in the Syria war. After six months, he acknowledged the Post but again, because of the numerous educational initiatives had failed.

Through his Foundation, Annan, intervened afterwards and commented on the current disputes. To tweeted the student protests against the American gun lobby: “If the state leaders of their role, can take on the people, the Leadership, and the leaders to follow the force.” Even in Public, he showed, for example, in the case of the celebrations to 100. Birthday of Nelson Mandela.

Most recently, Kofi Annan, lived with his second wife, Nane, in Geneva. He died after a short illness at the age of 80 years.