Bidding Farewell to Kofi Annan; Welcoming Ki-Moon

Dearest Mama,

Have you heard the news? Kofi will be turning over his office on January 1 to the new person elected to the position!

Mama, I am not talking about the Kofi in our Clan. Even though the Kofi I am talking about comes from the other side of our Clan; he works for the group that represents the whole world; the United Nations. Kofi has reached the end of the road; his term as Secretary- General is over. A South Korean former politician, Ban Ki- Moon will succeed Kofi Annan as Secretary- General of the United Nations on January 1, 2007. Ki-Moon was elected to become the new Secretary General on October 13, 2006, and sworn in on December 14, 2006. Guess what! Kofi will be turning over his office peacefully. That is the beauty of respect for rule of law; the splendor for upholding policies, and the exquisiteness for respecting and maintaining one's dignity.

Kofi Annan became the seventh Secretary General of the UN, taking over from Boutros Boutros- Ghali of Egypt on January 1, 1997. That means that Kofi Annan, the first sub- Saharan Africa person to head that post ends his ten year term on December 31, 2006.

Mama, Kofi Annan’s career as the big diplomat of the whole world has drawn scrutinizes from both his supporters and critics. One group claims that he always challenge the top Kwee people, while others insist that he was a toady. Well Mama, the best I can do in this letter is to tell you some of the complexities this soft-spoken man experienced.

Annan was really in a tough spot like most of those who found themselves in similar positions; people who are presently holding such positions; and those who will ultimately find numerous eyes watching them. Being the world’s top diplomat is a delicate position people from the developed world, countries within the middle circles, and those from the developing worlds need the diplomat’s eyes, ears, and mouth. How do you give one part of the world your eyes without turning your back to another country?

Annan’s rapport with the White House was another tricky situation if he became close to the White House on the UN reform, developing countries criticized him. Then, whenever Annan questioned the White House stance on Iraq and developmental assistance, he was condemned.

Mama, the question saturating the halls of policy organizations is whether Kofi Annan left the UN in better shape than he found it. One lady said, “I strongly believe Kofi Annan did a tremendous job as secretary general. He has built a strong foundation for his successor, Ban Ki-moon.” Another person said, “I think Kofi Annan saw more wars and disasters, including terrorism, the Iraq war, the Middle East Conflicts, etc, than any other secretary general, and he handled himself well during those difficult periods.”

One of Annan’s greatest fault as secretary General was the Iraq Oil-for-food scandal in which his son was implicated. Even though Annan was cleared of the scandal, the issue may always be raised whenever his administration as Secretary General of the United Nations is discussed.

Again, there are also those who believed that Annan concentrated much of his efforts on drawing attention to the destruction of HIV-AIDS, and persuading international businesses to help promote development. Is that positive or negative? While many will applaud Annan for highlighting the ravages of HIV AIDS, and development, critics may take exception.

Mama, I strongly believe that like most of the previous Secretary Generals of the UN, Kofi Annan tried to make improvements wherever necessary but he did not have all of the powers to carry all of them through; that is because the Secretary-General needs the support of the Security Council.

Mama, before I close this letter, I would like to inform Ban Ki- Moon that he is inheriting a United Nations that has a somewhat low morale. The enthusiasm of the United Nations saw a drastic decline particularly since 1993; at the end of the Gulf War and the sudden collapse of the peacekeeping missions in Bosnia, Somalia and other areas.

Therefore, Mr. Ki-Moon needs to be aware that given the low morale, both among staff within the United Nations and among member states of the organizations, he may experience low tolerance level among member states. I- Moon must also bear in mind that the bad mood and lack of tolerance among member states is actually a result of different interests, nothing else. For example, the UN means something different to the people of our clan than it is for the people of Toronto. UN means something else to China, while Cuba looks at the World body differently. The different eyes with which member states view the UN was really manifested when countries deliberated the UN reform document. Clearly, Ki-Moon should remember that our Clan and other poor and underdeveloped countries primary concern is development. Ki-Moon can take a look at the time when Annan introduced the Millennium Development Goals; people from our clan and communities from our part of the world were very happy. Given the different interests of member states of the UN, Mr. Ki-Moon will have to identify a common link or vision that he can use to persuading members of the United Nations and staff of the world body that they have something in common, in order to boost their spirits and basin of tolerance. I believe that by identifying a vision or commonality, Ki-Moon can then begin to build a spirit of cordiality among different members of the United Nations as a first step to asserting himself as the World's Top Diplomat.

Mama, I have to leave now to drop this mail. May the beauty of the year sprinkle and brightens every day of the 2007, and the years ahead. Happy New Year!

Always,
musue