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Kofi Annan
 Political stability and economic development are
inseparable.
Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General, whose personality alone reflects
wisdom, was the first black African to assume this position, and the first to lead the entire
organization. Nevertheless, his arrival was amid much turbulence, at a crucial point in
history, at the end of the cold war and the passage of the twenty-first century into the third millenium. With
still, a lot more challenges ahead, notably, those concerning his native
Africa. The border conflicts, natural disasters, the burden of its
debts, the blunt reality of a global market and the crushing forces of
democratization, to name a few. But the UN Secretary believed in, and focused on the future of
humanity, especially of Africa, that political stability and economic development are
inseparable.
Named Man of the Year 2002, by Diplomat Investment, here is an exclusive interview, to mark the occasion.
Its been an up-hill battle since my nomination as head of the UN in 1997. It been my desire to
make the UN a more powerful organization by
restructuring it. All of our administrative procedures have been
planned, introducing a more flexible administration that will considerably improve coordination among organisms distant from UN. The UN Vice-Secretary General Louise Fréchette, whose position was created during the
reform, was mandated to ensure the coherence of our activities and
programs, among other things. We focused our efforts on reinforcing our interventions, at the dawn of a new millenium.
Nevertheless, Our objectives: Peace, prosperity and Social justice have remained
unchanged, since the creation of the UN.
Diplomat Investment: Mr. Secretary-General, how do you perceive the future of Africa, at the dawn of this new millenium?
Kofi Annan : As I mentioned in my report, this new millenium gives us, both the opportunity to rejoice and to
ponder, and this is even more so, for the continent of Africa, at this critical point of its development both economically and
politically.
What can you tell us about the major reforms pushed forward within the UN organization?
The UN must become a modernized organization, more efficient yet more
supple. But unless it Member States are ready to embrace the structural reform of the
organization, our efforts may be hindered. Surely, the Secretary has a role to
play, we must and will definitely make recommendations. I have asked a team of renowned experts, headed by former Algerian Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Lakhdar Brahimi, to sturdy the means by which the UN can enforce its capacities in matters of maintaining international peace and
security. The General Assembly is presently examining their
recommendations, and I sincerely hope that Member States will help us assist the people whom we
represent, by honoring those recommendations, and allowing the proposed changes.
Africa still faces a myriad of challenges to confront. Poverty, endemic
conflicts, disease with AIDS high on the agenda, are all plaguing the continent and needs to be addressed
immediately.
Most of the inhabitants of Sub Saharan Africa survive on less than one dollar a
day. As a result, suffering in that region has amplified. The poorer countries,
particularly, those facing greater inequalities along ethnic and religious
lines, are more at risk. Poverty renders those populations more venerable to
disease. Those countries are lacking the capabilities and the resources necessary to put in place rational ecological
policies, thus compromising the very subsistence of it peoples, pushing them deeper into
despair. By acting now, we make it possible to reverse this vicious cycle.
The International Community has been more determined than
ever, to assist African countries that are have fallen prey to troubles and
tregedies. During the Mellinium Summit, Heads of States and of Governments joined forces in responding to the needs of Africa to eradicate poverty and restore peace and sustainable
development, thus, the integration of the continent in a world
economy.
Africa has come a long way, researchers are constantly searching out solutions for the problems facing the continent, and it is encouraging to note, that against all
odds, democracy is slowly coming to the continent, it would be unwise to neglect these pointers.
Diplomat Investment: Do you believe that globalization will generate in
Africa, the capital and expertise necessary to complement its belated economic
recovery?
Surely, but this may necessitate the joint efforts of the industrialized countries and the African countries. Up to this point, Africa still is near the margin of
globalization, what is received from invested capital outside of the country, as well as internal capital when brought to international
exchange, remains relatively low. The industrialized countries' role is indispensable in helping the continent's full integration onto a world
economy. For this reason, I hope the industrialized countries rapidly implement the measures agreed upon during the Millenium
Summit. Which include the cancellation of the burden of debt upon the poorer countries, facilitating market access for African
produce, significant growth in public development aid and an influx of direct foreign investment as well as transfer of
technology.
On their part, African countries should reform certain economic policies hampering the efforts most of its private
enterprises. The States should loosen their grip on the economic
activities, and remove skyrocketing tariffs, which are also,
deterrents. The standards should be raised in its fight against corruption, in order to attract the investments necessary to improve
productivity. Much of its capital and expertise come from the private
sector. We should encourage partnerships with the private sector so that Africa may benefit fully from
globalization, and not merely endure its negative after effect..
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