Press Statement attributable to
the Spokesperson of the High Representative for the
United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)
Commemorating the 4th anniversary of the passing of
former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan
New York, 18 August 2022
Today, we commemorate the fourth anniversary of the passing of former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan. We also celebrate his legacy as a peacemaker and a guiding force for the common good.
Mr. Annan had been particularly instrumental in the creation of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, on 14 July 2005 as an initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General. He clearly identified the need for an initiative to build bridges, overcome prejudices, avoid polarization and strengthen dialogue and mutual respect.
Seventeen years later, this need remains as acute as ever.
In borrowing some of his words about UNAOC, Mr. Annan said “The Alliance of Civilizations was created in the belief that dialogue can triumph over discord; that diversity is a strength, not a threat; and that the peoples of the world are far more united by their shared fate than they are divided by their separate identities.”
The mantra of UNAOC is “One Humanity, Many Cultures”. It is the spirit that should be remembered and celebrated today and every day.
Kofi Annan was the 7th Secretary-General of the United Nations, from 1997 to 2006.