...let us continue to work together to develop and nurture in future generations a culture of human rights, to promote freedom, security and peace in all nations. Kofi Annan More Quotes by Kofi Annan More Quotes From Kofi Annan How can you have a world of today where India is not represented in the Security Council; Japan, the second contributor, is not there; the whole continent of Africa, soon to be 54 countries, don't have a single permanent seat; and Latin America is absent? It's not realistic. Kofi Annan latin country america The question is the morning after. What sort of Iraq do we wake up to after the bombing? What happens in the region? What impact could it have? These are questions leaders I have spoken to have posed. Kofi Annan impact iraq morning Professional accountants should use that influence to encourage the companies they serve to think long term and integrate sustainable development goals into their accounting, such as by including a natural capital account, which I have heard is gaining ground. Kofi Annan goal long thinking Democracy is, in essence, a form of non-violent conflict management. If war is the worst enemy of development, healthy and balanced development is the best form of conflict prevention. Kofi Annan worst-enemy essence war Applaud us when we prevail, correct us when we fail; but, above all, do not let this indispensable, irreplaceable institution wither, languish or perish as a result of Member States' indifference, inattention or financial starvation. Kofi Annan inattention indifference financial The other thing that really I regretted not being able to do was to push effectively for the reform of the Security Council. Because the world was changing, and is changing very fast, and I felt the UN was holding on to old arrangements. Most governments felt that it has such a narrow power base, based on the results of the second world war. Kofi Annan able government war Often, we take stability - peace in terms of security and economic activity - to mean a country is doing well. We forget the third and important pillar of rule of law and respect for human rights, because no country can long remain prosperous without that third pillar. Kofi Annan rights mean country You will recall that for months after 9/11, there was incredible support and sympathy for the US. I really hoped and wished they had played on that, and kept all these friends they had made, and found a way of dealing with the terrorists through co-operation of international intelligence services, police exchange of information. Kofi Annan intelligence-services support police Normally when people resign they will organise their champagne farewell parties... and then they resurface somewhere. Kofi Annan party farewell people It's not that easy to quit. When you look back in the American system it is very rare that people quit on issues of principle. Kofi Annan issues principles people After the end of the cold war, everybody thought, fantastic, finally the UN may be able to do what it was originally set up to do without big power divisions. It would be easy to get them to come together to resolve things. You will recall, on the first Gulf war, you almost got a unanimous resolution and a very solid coalition. Kofi Annan together may war The UN was very media-shy, and its relationship with the press was very controlled; although periodically I spoke to the press, the rule was, only the secretary-general speaks to the press; only the secretary-general makes... So you would see many situations where under-secretaries-general would come in and speak. I opened that, and I encouraged all of them to speak in their areas, whether it was peacekeeping or humanitarian efforts. Kofi Annan effort shy media You may have noticed over the years that the UN became a bit more media-friendly, a bit more open to the media than in the past. Kofi Annan media past years You have to develop a certain healthy distance to allow you to keep a clear head, to be able to analyse the situation, lead your team, and move forward with them, because there are times if I'm not careful... if you get too involved, it will consume you; it will consume you, and you will not be good to your team; the issues you are dealing with. Kofi Annan distance team moving-forward Can the state, which represents the whole of society and has the duty of protecting society, fulfill that duty by lowering itself to the level of the murderer, and treating him as he treated others? The forfeiture of life is too absolute, too irreversible, for one human being to inflict it on another, even when backed by legal process. Kofi Annan death-penalty levels life-is Over time you get to understand the nature of man and the environments you are dealing with, and you can't always allow emotions and temper to flare up because you're displeased with something, or you want to change it. Kofi Annan flare-up want men I observe a lot. I see a lot around me. Kofi Annan To go to war without the Security Council will not be in conformity with the Council. Kofi Annan council conformity war We had a rule in the school that when you're punished, you carry out the punishment and then complain, which I felt was absolutely unfair: if I'd done it, what was the point of complaining? Kofi Annan punishment complaining school We tend to look at countries in terms of failed states and functioning states, which is rather simplistic. Kofi Annan states country looks
