Former UN Under-Secretary-General Says Kofi Annan Was Extraordinary, Independent Person

Former UN Under-Secretary-General Says Kofi Annan Was Extraordinary, Independent Person

Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who died earlier on Saturday, was an extraordinary person and diplomat, who did not receive instructions "from above," but acted independently while drafting reforms, Director-General of UN Office at Geneva in 2002-2011 and former UN Under-Secretary-General Sergei Ordzhonikidze told Sputnik on Saturday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th August, 2018) Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who died earlier on Saturday, was an extraordinary person and diplomat, who did not receive instructions "from above," but acted independently while drafting reforms, Director-General of UN Office at Geneva in 2002-2011 and former UN Under-Secretary-General Sergei Ordzhonikidze told Sputnik on Saturday.

Annan passed away at the age of 80 in his family circle after a short illness.

"I have worked with him for several years, and he was certainly an extraordinary person. He began his career with the most junior UN position and was gradually growing. Kofi Annan was the author of many ideas that the secretary-general should propose to the state for consideration and adoption in accordance with the UN Charter. Kofi Annan was a good manager; he knew the whole UN system and was a very pleasant person. It was interesting to work with him; he was a man with a great sense of humor. He was an extraordinary person," Ordzhonikidze said.

Annan dealt not only with maintaining peace, but also with personnel and healthcare issues, the diplomat recalled.

"Many of his predecessors and followers acted either modestly or not independently regarding the reforms, at the behest of some states. It seems that Kofi Annan was working it out," Ordzhonikidze said.

Once or twice a week, Annan gathered a videoconference of the UN leadership for a joint consideration of some problems before bringing them for wider discussion, he recalled.

"This is very valuable when the UN secretary-general does not receive instructions from above and then tries to promote it as an independent initiative, so that the reform is born in the course of discussions within a close circle," Ordzhonikidze pointed out.

Annan has always been receptive to opinions of his deputies, the diplomat stressed.

"Honestly, I have the best memories about him," Ordzhonikidze concluded.

Annan will remain in people's memory, he did much to improve and support international relations, and to protect international rights, Deputy Chair of the Russian State Duma International Affairs Committee Alexei Chepa stated.

"I think it is a very big loss. He did a lot to improve and support international relations, protect international rights, and he enjoyed and enjoys respect. I think his name will be preserved in our memory, in our hearts," he said.

Annan was born in 1938 and served as the head of the United Nations in 1997-2006, winning the 2001 Nobel Peace prize. In 2007, Annan founded the Kofi Annan Foundation, a non-profit focused on support for democracy, fighting hunger and drug trafficking, and nurturing youth leadership.