We The Peoples: A UN for the 21st Century.

ANNAN, Kofi.

$400.00

Item Number: 59016

Boulder, CO: Paradigm Publishers, 2014.

First edition of this work, in which Annan writes about the lessons of history he learned during his service as Secretary-General. Octavo, original boards. Edited by Edward Mortimer. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page to John Whitehead and his wife, “To John and Cynthia With friendship and much affection Kofi Annan 27-10-14.” John Whitehead was a banker and civil servant, and a board member of the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation and, until his resignation in May 2006, chairman of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. In April 1985, Whitehead was asked to become Deputy Secretary of State, to Secretary George Shultz, and served until January 1989. During this period, he was Acting Secretary of State when Shultz was away from Washington and took a special interest in relations with Eastern Europe, the United Nations, and with various administrative reforms in the U.S. Department of State. Whitehead was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal by President Reagan. Fine in a fine dust jacket.

During his momentous time as Secretary-General of the UN, Kofi Annan played a decisive role in launching the Millennium Development Goals, establishing the International Criminal Court, and articulating the Responsibility to Protect as a guiding principle for international action. In 2001 - just after 9/11 - he and the UN jointly received the Nobel Peace Prize, 'for their work for a better organized and more peaceful world.' These and other crucial events - including the crises over Kosovo and East Timor, and the war in Iraq - are encapsulated in this book of Kofi Annan's key speeches from throughout his term of office. The selection gives a broad view of Annan's most pressing concerns, and the eloquence with which he addressed them. Covering subjects from development, health, and climate change to the prevention of genocide and the ideal of diversity, these statements show how deeply involved the UN was in the most important issues of the era. “This long-awaited book by Kofi Annan provides remarkable lessons of history during his service as Secretary-General, combined with advice and counsel that are valuable to all world leaders for meeting future challenges and opportunities" (Jimmy Carter).