Kofi Annan Quotations

Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.

Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development.

To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there.

Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance.

More than ever before in human history, we share a common destiny. We can master it only if we face it together. And that, my friends, is why we have the United Nations.

Unfortunately, very few governments think about youth unemployment when they are drawing up their national plans.

There is no development strategy more beneficial to society as a whole - women and men alike - than the one which involves women as central players.

The Lord had the wonderful advantage of being able to work alone.

More countries have understood that women's equality is a prerequisite for development.

When economic conditions are difficult, people tend to be less generous and protect themselves; the question of solidarity doesn't mean much to them at that time.

In the 21st century, I believe the mission of the United Nations will be defined by a new, more profound awareness of the sanctity and dignity of every human life, regardless of race or religion.

On climate change, we often don't fully appreciate that it is a problem. We think it is a problem waiting to happen.

I urge the Iraqi leadership for sake of its own people... to seize this opportunity and thereby begin to end the isolation and suffering of the Iraqi people.

In their greatest hour of need, the world failed the people of Rwanda.

It has been said that arguing against globalization is like arguing against the laws of gravity.

We have to choose between a global market driven only by calculations of short-term profit, and one which has a human face.

Business, labor and civil society organizations have skills and resources that are vital in helping to build a more robust global community.

In the rush for justice it is important not to lose sight of principles the country holds dear.

We have the means and the capacity to deal with our problems, if only we can find the political will.

If we can come up with innovations and train young people to take on new jobs, and if we can switch to clean energy, I think we have the capacity to build this world not dependent on fossil-fuel. I think it will happen, and it won't destroy economy.

We cannot wait for governments to do it all. Globalization operates on Internet time. Governments tend to be slow moving by nature, because they have to build political support for every step.

We need to think of the future and the planet we are going to leave to our children and their children.

What governments and people don't realise is that sometimes the collective interest - the international interest - is also the national interest.

We need to keep hope alive and strive to do better.

We must ensure that the global market is embedded in broadly shared values and practices that reflect global social needs, and that all the world's people share the benefits of globalization.

Open markets offer the only realistic hope of pulling billions of people in developing countries out of abject poverty, while sustaining prosperity in the industrialized world.

Many African leaders refuse to send their troops on peace keeping missions abroad because they probably need their armies to intimidate their own populations.

If information and knowledge are central to democracy, they are conditions for development.

National markets are held together by shared values and confidence in certain minimum standards. But in the new global market, people do not yet have that confidence.

I have always believed that on important issues, the leaders must lead. Where the leaders fail to lead, and people are really concerned about it, the people will take the lead and make the leaders follow.

If one is going to err, one should err on the side of liberty and freedom.

Above all else, we need a reaffirmation of political commitment at the highest levels to reducing the dangers that arise both from existing nuclear weapons and from further proliferation.

Iraq has a new opportunity to comply with all these relevant resolutions of the Security Council.

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.

Time and again, when member states and the governments are faced with an insoluble problem, and they're under pressure to do something, that something usually ends up being referred to the U.N.

The United Nations, whose membership comprises almost all the states in the world, is founded on the principle of the equal worth of every human being.

I don't share the view that the ICC is anti-African. The ICC is not putting Africa on trial. The ICC is fighting impunity and individuals who are accused of crimes.

If the United Nations does not attempt to chart a course for the world's people in the first decades of the new millennium, who will?

The permanent mission of Cuba to the United Nations wishes to protest strongly at the arbitrary decision and to state that it disagrees completely with the pretexts given.

We are pressing ahead with our contingency planning and we hope to be ready to work with the African Union as we move forward to the implementation of the anticipated decision by the (UN) Security Council that we push ahead with the transition.

There are concerns that if we do not make progress ... desperate people will resort to violence again,

While many parts of the United Nations have been involved in the peace-building process, the system has lacked a dedicated entity to oversee the process, ensure its coherence or sustain it through the long haul.

Whether our challenge is peacemaking, nation-building, democratization or responding to natural or man-made disaster, we have seen that even the strongest amongst us cannot succeed alone.

What's needed now is not more declarations or promises, but action, ... I believe my report provides a clear program of action.

Usually, because society's inequalities puts them at risk -- unjust, unconscionable risk.

work this out and come up with an acceptable resolution.

Throughout a rich and varied life, Mr Cook displayed exceptional intellect, eloquence, vision and passion in the domestic and international arenas alike,

We know from experience that if the international community does not support these control measures now, the potential cost to the world will be much higher in the long term. Past outbreaks have already cost more than $10 billion in economic losses.

We know better than anyone else how to deal with our brothers,

very concerned about the military build-up and expressed his readiness for dialogue.

would be insufficient to address, even as a temporary measure, all the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people.

We acted on the report as soon as it came out, ... This is not the end. It is the beginning and we'll act on the other branches of the report as they come out.

There are no excuses, ... If we are to show ourselves worthy of calling ourselves members of humankind, we must rise to this challenge. Our response will be no less than a measure of our humanity.

The only way to halt an escalation of violence is for Israelis and Palestinians to work towards a viable negotiating process aimed at a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement,

The only way to escape from the present downward spiral lies through ending the violence and resuming negotiations aimed at comprehensive peaceful settlement based on relevant United Nations resolutions,

We've shared with them where we stand, what we hope to do next and explained to them the state of play,

The process has been difficult, but the outcome is a clear demonstration of the will of all the members of the Security Council to place the interest of the Iraqi people above all other considerations.

We shall see, ... They want to end this.

The people of Serbia want to have a say in the decisions affecting them. And I hope that this choice and their voice will be heard.

We are taking very active measures to ensure that we do not have any more bad apples in that department, ... We are going to act very energetically to take measures to ensure that what happened does not happen again.

to protect themselves against criticism or to criticize others.

We need to be able to work to resolve it, and I hope there will be no steps taken to escalate the situation.

let us be frank with each other, and the peoples of the United Nations. We have not yet achieved the sweeping and fundamental reform that I, and many others, believe is required. Sharp differences, some of them substantive and legitimate, have played their part in preventing that.

made it quite clear that the United Nations cannot condone the Turkish incursion into northern Iraq.

Liberia today is poised between hope and disaster,

Let us remember that every person who is infected, whatever the reason, is a fellow human being with human rights and human needs,

Let us not be deceived when we look at a clear blue sky into thinking that all is well. All is not well,

Let me be absolutely clear: the United Nations does not want to take over, police or otherwise control the Internet,

Let there be no disguising the perilous state of earth, or pretending that conservation is too expensive when we know that the cost of failure to act is far greater,

Libya has confirmed its seriousness and readiness to find a solution to the Lockerbie problem,

Libya has also agreed to a trial in a third country and believes that it ought to be possible to find answers to all other outstanding issues relating to this matter,

Liberty is not just a cause for celebration today, but also a worthy crusade for our time, ... Where there is life, there is the thirst for liberty in all men and women regardless of faith, color or country.

Lots of consultations are going on in various capitals. And everyone concerned, including the Americans, have made it clear they would prefer a diplomatic solution, ... Let us give it time. Let us see what happens.

Leaders in the region remain engaged in the process of convincing President Saddam and the Iraqi leadership to disarm and cooperate with inspectors,

Leaders of both rich and poor countries committed themselves to detailed policies which, if fully implemented, could reduce hunger and poverty by 50 percent in the next 10 years,

Many challenges remain in combating impunity, particularly due to the limited capacity of civilian and military judicial authorities to carry out independent and thorough investigations and to provide protection to victims and witnesses,

Many are living in sub-human conditions and they fear for their future,

security awareness ... did not match the hostile environment.

sent an important message to the world that there should be no impunity for genocide and crimes against humanity.

shocked to know that so many rich governments have given so little.

Simply put, what the United Nations wants is what the U.S. also wants: a reformed United Nations that is effective, efficient, leaner and relevant to the tasks that member states want to set for us, ... The world has changed and we have to change, we have to adapt and I have given my commitment to the president that I will pursue reforms.

Since Europe is going to foot quite a lot of the bill (for Kosovo's reconstruction) that would be right,

Millions of children and young people are already affected by the pandemic - including those infected through the most heart-reading from of transmission, mother to child,

Millions of children and adults are becoming infected, falling ill and dying without the barest essentials in medical treatment, counseling or social support,

Millions still live poor and isolated lives. Millions more have found their lives disrupted, even destroyed, by global economic forces they do not understand and cannot control,

Men can make a particular difference -- by being more caring, by taking fewer risks and by facing the issue of AIDS head-on.

Mr. Volcker has said that 'the findings do not make for pleasant reading,' and I agree.

Mr. de Soto's contacts with regional leaders, while not as complete as would have been desirable, nevertheless confirmed my concern that the new situation which had emerged following the developments of May, compounding as it does the longstanding causes of friction between India and Pakistan, may have serious implications for peace and security in the region and beyond,

One should not allow a minority or small minority to withhold their consent unreasonably. They should have the courage to vote and take decisions. But they tend to want to get consensus at all costs, and therefore you have 191 vetoes,

Obviously we need all our tools, helicopters, trucks, communication to be able to operate, ... We are placed in a situation where the government has not been cooperating and has limited the movements of our troops.

Obviously we didn't get everything we wanted. With 191 member states, it's not easy to get an agreement,

Obviously we didn't get everything we wanted and with 191 member states it's not easy to get an agreement, ... All of us would have wanted more but we can work with what we have been given, and it's a step forward.

Obviously we seen to be at the end of the road here,

no one in the international community defended what the Iranian president said and the Security Council itself issued a statement.

My concern is that, if it were adopted, it could set precedents that result in a proliferation of the unilateral and lawless use of force, with or without credible justification.

must set clear objectives and develop a strategy to achieve them.

Now we turn to a new task: to implement what has been agreed, and keep working to bridge differences that remain,

Now we must decide whether it is possible to continue on the basis agreed then, or whether radical changes are needed.

Now they have had this serious blow and I think we should try and help President (George W.) Bush and the administration, the American Red Cross and NGOs...who have been our partners in other crises around the world like the tsunami,

Nuclear conflict remains a very real, and very terrifying possibility at the beginning of the 21st century, ... This is the stark reality confronting you today.