Kofi Annan Elected As Secretary General Of The United Nations In Today's Memory, December 13, 1996

Kofi Annan, who served as Secretary General of the United Nations from 1996-2006. (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA Memories of today, 27 years ago, December 13, 1996, an accomplished diplomat, Kofi Annan was elected as Secretary General (Secretary General) of the United Nations. This success was because Annan managed to show his ability to handle many confilks with high-level diplomatic skills.

Previously, life as part of the colonized nation, Ghana was once felt by Annan. This experience made Annan sensitive to various world confictive groups. This provision made his career as an accomplished diplomat develop.

Humans cannot choose where they were born. Kofi Annan, one of them. He was born in Kumasi, the Gold Coast (now: Ghana) on April 8, 1938. At that time his country was being colonized by Britain. However, colonialism was not an obstacle for Annan to develop.

His parents were able to finance Annan to get an education. Annan did not waste the opportunity to go to school. Ulam's beloved pinnacle arrives. Anan gets a scholarship to continue his education in the United States, then Switzerland.

The narrative made him assemble dreams of becoming a diplomat. He described a world full of peace. The dream then led him to become part of the World Health Organization formed by the United Nations, WHO in 1962.

He initially served as an administrative officer. His career skyrocketed. He was able to achieve many prestigious positions at the UN Secretariat. Since then, Annan has become known as an accomplished diplomat. Annan began to be involved in all kinds of conflicts that are difficult to talk about.

Moreover, when he was elected deputy secretary general of peacekeeping operations in 1993-1995. It was these actions that made him intervene a lot of diplomacy for peace. This skill made the name Annan skyrocket. He became known by many national leaders in the world.

Annan had his first direct experience on a diplomatic mission by meeting Iraqi Ruler Saddam Hussein. This was done when he was sent to Baghdad in 1990 to negotiate the repatriation of 900 international staff and the release of western hostages in Iraq.

After the end of the Gulf war, he led the UN team to negotiate with Iraq based on the provisions of the security council's resolution to ease sanctions, allowing Iraq's limited oil sales to pay for medicines. Even with the help of other humanity to Iraq, Hella Pick explained in his writing on The Guardian's website entitled Kofi Annan Observatory (2018).

Annan's diplomatic skills were also glimpsed by the United Nations. Many of the UN members nominated her to be the leader of the world-class organization. This wish was finally realized. Annan was nominated as Secretary General of the United Nations replacing Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

Jalannya jadi Sekjen jadi real. Annand kemudian resmi terpilih sebagai Sekjen pada 13 Desember 1996. Meskipun Ia pun baru menjadi orang nomor satu PBB satu bulan sebelahnya. Kepemimpinan Annan pun membawa perubahan bagi PBB.

"Dianugerahi Nobel Peace Prize in 2001, Annan was the first black African to lead the United Nations, serving for two consecutive five-year periods starting in 1997 a decade full of turmoil that challenged the large organization and re-defined the position of the United Nations to change the world," Alan Cowell said in his article on The New York Times website entitled Kofi Annan, Who Redefined the U.N., Dies at 80(2018).

Kofi Annan died at the age of 80 due to illness in Bern, Switzerland on August 18, 2018. His body was buried in Accra, Ghana on September 13, 2018.