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Quote by Kofi Annan

“The Refugee Convention of 1951 was a major breakthrough, outlining the rights of those displaced across borders as well as the legal obligations of states to protect them.”

Quote by Kofi Annan

Author

Kofi Annan, born on April 8, 1938, is an accomplished diplomat. He served in various significant roles at the United Nations, culminating in his tenure as the seventh Secretary-General. Known for his contributions to peace and security, Annan was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. more

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“The drafters of the [Refugee Convention ] had the Cold War in mind and mainly sought to protect a few thousand dissidents from the Communist bloc. They did not envision the mass displacements of people we are seeing today.”

People Mind War Today Seeing Cold Thousand Protect Mass Communist Conventions Cold War Refugee Displacement Dissidents

Author:Kofi Annan

“I think that these flows of refugee are the inevitable counterparts to the flow of capital and goods. In other words, they too are by-products of globalisation.”

Thinking Products Flow Inevitable Goods Refugee Counterparts Globalisation

Author:Kofi Annan

“[Refugees] cannot be stopped, but they can and must be managed better, more humanely, protecting migrants' human rights whilst accepting states' rights to control their borders.”

Humans States Accepting Rights Human Rights Borders Refugee Migrants States Rights

Author:Kofi Annan

“Like any large organisation, public or private, the UN is a complex machine.”

Machines Complexes Organisation

Author:Kofi Annan

“In fact UN is more of a galaxy of organisations and agencies than one machine.”

Facts Machines Agency Galaxy Organisation

Author:Kofi Annan

“UN is made even more complex by the constant interplay of politics and bureaucracy and can certainly be bewildering for a novice.”

Made Constant Complexes Bureaucracy Novices

Author:Kofi Annan

“Having worked my way from the bottom of the ladder to the top [of the UN] certainly helped me navigate that complexity, both political and bureaucratic.”

Way Political Bottom My Way Complexity Ladders Navigate

Author:Kofi Annan

“My intimate knowledge of the [UN] system allowed me to get things done despite the many obstacles.”

Done Obstacles Despite Intimate Things Done

Author:Kofi Annan

“I did not always achieve what I set out to do. Nevertheless, my personal example certainly suggests that hands-on experience can be helpful to future leaders.”

Hands Leader Achieve Example Helpful Nevertheless Future Leaders Hands On Experience

Author:Kofi Annan

“One must also acknowledge that there are moments in an organisation's development when fresh blood and new vision are required, which may imply that an outsider may be better suited to the leadership role.”

May Moments Vision Roles Blood Development Acknowledge Outsiders Organisation Leadership Roles New Vision

Author:Kofi Annan