Appreciation-admiration-gratitude-garlands offered to Secretary-General Kofi Annan

Mr. Vladimir Petrovsky

29 March 2002

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, is one of the worlds most visionary and, at the same time, most democratic leaders. I have had the great opportunity of serving as Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva under his leadership, and I can assure you that I have the highest personal regard for Kofi Annan.

The United Nations is open to all the people now, not only to governmental bodies, and this is one of the greatest contributions of the Secretary-General. He has brought the United Nations into the hearts and lives of the people, and also brought the people into the United Nations across all lines of religion and race. In so doing, the Secretary-General has achieved something very great for the world and something unprecedented in the history of democracy.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has also brought a new and invaluable democratic style in running the major executive body of the United Nations — the Secretariat. It is a fresh and invigorating example for all the other bodies of the United Nations Organization, from Headquarters to the worldwide field offices.

Kofi Annan is a very noble man who gives to each person a great sense of dignity and also of participation in a cause which is far greater than the cause of any one individual. After all, we are all partners and allies in the struggle for the survival and progress of the human race.

In closing, I would like to offer the Secretary-General my great personal regards and respects, along with my fervent hopes for his continuing success in his pioneering works for the betterment of humankind.