United Nations commemorates seventh anniversary of Kofi Annan's passing

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres paid tribute to his predecessor, Kofi Annan, on the seventh anniversary of his death, describing the diplomat as a mentor, friend, and global champion for peace. Born in Kumasi, Ghana, in 1938, Annan served as UN Secretary-General from 1997, becoming the first leader of the organization to have risen through its own ranks, specifically from his role as director of peacekeeping operations.

Annan is notably remembered in Cyprus for his role in the 2004 settlement plan that bears his name. The Annan Plan, which emerged from diplomatic efforts starting in the late 1990s amidst Cyprus's prospective accession to the European Union, was put to a national referendum on April 24, 2004. The proposal was overwhelmingly rejected by the electorate. Sources note slight variations in the reporting of the anniversary, with one text citing seven years since his passing and another mentioning eight, though official commemoration activity is centered on the seventh-year milestone.