WORLD ACADEMY OF INFORMATICS AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES
ISSN : 2278-1315
company Cotecna Inspection SA, which had won a lucrative
talk was a "sincere and constructive critique of U.S. policy
contract under the UN Oil-for-Food Programme. Kofi
toward the U.N. by a friend and admirer".
Annan called for an investigation to look into the
The talk was unusual because it violated unofficial policy of
allegations. On 11 November 2005, The Sunday Times
not having top officials publicly criticize member nations. The
agreed to apologise and pay a substantial sum in damages to
interim U.S. ambassador John R. Bolton, appointed by
Kojo Annan, accepting that the allegations were untrue.
President George W. Bush, was reported to have told Annan
Annan appointed the Independent Inquiry Committee, which
on the phone: "I've known you since 1989 and I'm telling you
was led by former US Federal Reserve Chairman Paul
this is the worst mistake by a senior UN official that I have
Volcker, then the Director of the United Nations Association
seen in that entire time". Observers from other nations
of the US. In his first interview with the Inquiry Committee,
supported Malloch's view that conservative politicians in the
Annan denied having had a meeting with Cotecna. Later in
U.S. prevented many citizens from understanding the benefits
the inquiry, he recalled that he had met with Cotecna's Chief
of U.S. involvement in the UN.
Executive Elie-Georges Massey twice. In a final report
INSPIRING QUOTES OF KOFI ANNAN
issued on 27 October, the committee found insufficient
Here we look at what Kofi A. Annan had to say about the
evidence to indict Kofi Annan on any illegal actions, but did
importance of education and youth leadership throughout his
find fault with Benon Seven, an Armenian-Cypriot national
long career as a statesman.
who had worked for the UN for about 40 years. Appointed
“Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is
by Annan to the Oil-For-Food role, Sevan repeatedly asked
the premise of progress, in every society, in every family“
Iraqis for allocations of oil to the African Middle East
WORLD BANK CONFERENCE IN 1997
Petroleum Company. Sevan's behavior was "ethically
Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for daily
improper", Volcker said to reporters. Sevan repeatedly
life in modern society. It is a bulwark against poverty, and a
denied the charges and argued that he was being made a
building block of development, an essential complement to
"scapegoat". The Volcker report was highly critical of the
investments in roads, dams, clinics and factories. Literacy is a
UN management structure and the Security Council
platform for democratization, and a vehicle for the promotion
oversight. It strongly recommended a new position be
of cultural and national identity. Especially for girls and
established of Chief Operating Officer (COO), to handle the
women, it is an agent of family health and nutrition. For
fiscal and administrative responsibilities then under the
everyone, everywhere, literacy is, along with education in
Secretary-General's office. The report listed the companies,
general, a basic human right.... Literacy is, finally, the road to
both Western and Middle Eastern, which had benefited
human progress and the means through which every man,
illegally from the program.
woman and child can realize his or her full potential.
INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY 1997
NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
Education is a human right with immense power to transform.
In 2001, its centennial year, the Nobel Committee decided
On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy
that the Peace Prize was to be divided between the UN and
and sustainable human development.
Annan. They were awarded the Peace Prize "for their work
WORLD’S CHILDREN, UNICEF REPORT IN 1999
for a better organized and more peaceful world", having
Education is, quite simply, peace-building by another name. It
revitalized the UN and for having given priority to human
is the most effective form of defense spending there is.
rights. The Nobel Committee also recognized his
LEARNING NEVER ENDS CONFERENCE IN 1999
commitment to the struggle to containing the spread of HIV
Once girls are in school, we must work to ensure that school
in Africa and his declared opposition to international
prepares them for life, by developing curricula and materials,
terrorism.
and by encouraging attitudes among teachers that emphasise
RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND
the life skills these girls will need. And we must give them
THE UNITED NATIONS
access to another skill they will need for life in the twenty-first
Annan defended his deputy Secretary-General Mark
century: the use of information technology, which has become
Malloch Brown, who openly criticized the United States in a
an indispensable tool for learning, communicating and
speech on 6 June 2006: "[T]he prevailing practice of seeking
development.
to use the UN almost by stealth as a diplomatic tool while
WORLD EDUCATION FORUM IN 2000
failing to stand up for it against its domestic critics is simply
There is no trust more sacred than the one the world holds
not sustainable. You will lose the UN one way or another.
with children.
[That] the US is constructively engaged with the UN... is not
WORLD’S CHILDREN, UNICEF REPORT IN 2000
well known or understood, in part because much of the
Study after study has taught us that there is no tool for
public discourse that reaches the US heartland has been
development more effective than the education of girls... If we
largely abandoned to its loudest detractors such as Rush
are to succeed in our efforts to build a more healthy, peaceful
Limbaugh and Fox News". Malloch later said his
and equitable world, the classrooms of the world have to be
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