UAE leaders condole Annan’s death

ABU DHABI: President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent a message of condolences to UN Secretarygeneral Antonio Guterres, on the DEATH of Koi Annan, THE Former UN Secretary-general. The 80-year-old Ghanaian passed away peacefully on Saturday after a short illness.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces,also sent similar messages of sympathy to the UN chief.

The 80-year-old “passed away peacefully on Saturday after a short illness”, the foundation named after him said.

His home country, Ghana, has declared a week of national mourning. Mr Annan served two terms as UN chief from 1997 to 2006, and was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work.

He later served as the UN special Envoy For SYRIA, LEADING Efforts to ind A solution to THE Conlict.

In a statement announcing his DEATH, THE Koi Annan Foundation described him as a “global statesman and deeply committed internationalist who fought throughout his life for a fairer and more peaceful world.”

The current UN chief, Antonio Guterres, hailed him as “a guiding force for good” and a “proud son of Africa who became a global champion for peace and all humanity.”