The Kofi Annan reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
(provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Kofi Annan

A newer version of this article is available: see Kofi Annan at Schools Wikipedia
Sponsor with the world's largest charity for orphans
Kofi AnnanEnlarge

Kofi Annan

Kofi Atta Annan (born April 8 1938 in Kumasi, Ghana) is the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations. In 2001, he received the Nobel Peace Prize. He is fluent in English, French and several African languages.

His wife, Nane Annan, is the half-niece of Raoul Wallenberg. Kofi is a twin; his twin sister died in 1991.

Annan studied at the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi (Ghana), Macalester College in St Paul, Minnesota (United States, 1961), Institut universitaire des hautes études internationales in Geneva (Switzerland, 1961-62) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1971-72).

He started working for the World Health Organisation in 1962, and progressed upwards. In 1993 he was made Under-Secretary-General to Boutros Boutros-Ghali. He started his first term as Secretary General on January 1, 1997, and this was renewed on January 1, 2001. His reappointment was somewhat of an exception - the Secretary Generalship usually rotates around the continents, with two terms each. Egypt's Ghali was serving for Africa from 1993 to 1997, and was replaced by Annan for that continent. Normally he would have only served one term; but he was able to secure reappointment.

He visited Japan first as UN Secretary-General to address at the Japanese Parliament in Feb. 2004.

Honours

External link

Preceded by:
Boutros Boutros-Ghali 		United Nations Secretaries-General Succeeded by:
Current Incumbent


Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize