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Global reactions to death of former UN chief Kofi Annan

Posted August 18, 2018 7:00 am

The Associated Press

GENEVA (AP) - Reactions to the death of Kofi Annan, the first black African to become U.N. secretary-general and a Nobel Peace Prize winner who died early Saturday at age 80 after a short illness:

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"In a world now filled with leaders who are anything but that, our loss, the world's loss, becomes even more painful." - U.N. human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein

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"I sincerely admired his wisdom and courage as well as his ability to make balanced decisions even under the most dire and critical circumstances." - Russian President Vladimir Putin

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"A relentless champion for peace and a passionate ambassador for Sesame Street and the world's children." - Sesame Street

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"We are devastated ... Africa and the world has lost a special human being." - Nelson Mandela Foundation

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"A towering global leader and an unwavering champion for peace, justice and rule of law." - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif

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"Kofi was a gentle man and a tireless leader of the United Nations. His voice of experience will be missed around the world." - Former U.S. president George W. Bush

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"The U.N. and the world have lost one of their giants." - NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg

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"We give great thanks to God for Kofi Annan, an outstanding human being who represented our continent and the world with enormous graciousness, integrity and distinction." - Former South African archbishop Desmond Tutu

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"Long after he had broken barriers, Kofi never stopped his pursuit of a better world." - Former U.S. president Barack Obama

FILE - In this Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2003 file photo U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan greets President Bush at U.N. headquarters before the start of the 58th U.N. General Assembly. Annan, one of the world's most celebrated diplomats and a charismatic symbol of the United Nations who rose through its ranks to become the first black African secretary-general, has died. He was 80.(AP Photo/Scott Applewhite, File) The Associated Press

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