The figure of Kofi Annan remains the synonym of the notion of world peace for many people all round the globe because of the significant contribution of this person to the improvement of the situation in the world and strengthening the principles of the global peace. The name of Kofi Annan is associated with his activities as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations and with his contribution to founding the Global AIDS and Health Fund. Thus, Kofi Annan as the prominent diplomat and social activist, who was born in Ghana, made a lot for stating the principles of tolerance and peace in the world relations, for accentuating the human rights, and for developing the idea that the United Nations is intended to protect the people’s interests globally.
Kofi Annan was born in Kumasi, Ghana, in 1938. Annan received the excellent education in universities and institutes of Ghana and Geneva, and he was always interested in the social activities and in the work of diplomats. Having degrees in economics and international relations, Annan received the opportunity to use his considerable knowledge in practice, and he started working for the World Health Organization in Geneva. It was the first step on the way to the leading position in the United Nations. Working for the United Nations for a long period of time, Annan developed his vision of the effective strategy to transform the modern world into the successful and peaceful social and economic organism with the help of the United Nations’ influence.
Kofi Annan was appointed to be Secretary-General of the United Nations in 1997, and he took the position from 1997 to 2007. Annan started his activity with proposing the definite reforms for the organization to renew its status and support the vision of the United Nations as the powerful and influential organization. Thus, the plan of alternations and reforms included the orientation to preserving the peace globally, to developing the security principles, to accentuating the ideas of the humans’ equality with references to their rights, and to strengthening the role of the United Nations in the sphere of the world economy. The efforts of Secretary-General and the activities of the organization in regulating the international relations, preserving peace, and protecting the human rights were estimated, and Kofi Annan and the United Nations were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.
It is important to pay attention to the role of Kofi Annan in regulating the problematic international situations and such issues as the conflict between the USA and Iraq in 2003. Moreover, today Kofi Annan is known as the activist of the anti-HIV/AIDS movement with reference to the work of the Global AIDS and Health Fund. Furthermore, Kofi Annan did not stop participating in the regulation of the international conflicts after ceasing his activity as Secretary-General of the United Nations. During the year of 2012, Annan was involved in resolving the conflict in Syria and continued his work in the context of stabilization of the situation in Africa.
In spite of the fact Kofi Annan stopped his work as Secretary-General of the United Nations in 2007, the role of this person in regulating the present-day international relations is significant. Furthermore, the United Nations continued following the main principles developed by Annan and determined peace and the people’s interests as the fundaments of the activity all round the world.