Honoring Annan
Kofi Annan, former secretary-general of the United Nations, died in August. His funeral was held Tuesday. Assistant General Secretary Liberato Bautista, remembers Annan as "quintessential international public servant."
The Rev. Liberato Bautista, assistant general secretary for United Nations and International Affairs, recently spoke at a gathering of nongovernmental organizations at the United Nations.
Bautista used the opportunity to honor the recently departed Kofi Annan, the former secretary-general of the United Nations, who passed away last month.
Annan’s funeral was held Tuesday.
Many remember Annan as a leader who “redefined the U.N.” His leadership will be sorely missed.
Bautista said in his remarks:
I want to pay tribute and homage to the quintessential international public servant, Kofi Annan. I started representing at the UN in 1997 the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church when Kofi Annan was elected the UN Secretary General. I drank from the well of his wisdom and courage. Soon after he finished his term in 2007, I was elected president of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO). Mr. Annan settled in Geneva and set up his Kofi Annan Foundation there. Our CoNGO office was a stone’s throw away from the foundation’s and so was his presence and what he stood for. His friendship with NGOs was accessible and profuse. Thank you Mr. Annan for the mutually endearing and respectful relation—between us NGOS and you. We miss you already!
Church and Society offers prayers of gratitude for Annan’s witness and prayers of comfort for all those who mourn his loss.
