Kofi Annan Farewell Speech

dear friends and colleagues saying goodbye is never easy I have spent most of my life working with the United Nations I feel it is my home I can think of no other job in the world that would have been so rewarding and I have met wonderful people along the way and made many friends around the world it has been an extraordinary privilege to serve as Secretary General these last 10 years I believe we can all feel proud of what we have done together in that time to address some of the world's most presentent challenges sometimes we have shared the acceleration of success such as winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 at others we have faced bitter trials especially the tragic lost of 22 of our friends and colleagues in Baghdad in 2003 without your support I could not have achieved what I did or got through some very difficult times and through it all you the staff have maintained your professionalism and commitment and remain true to the spirit of the charter and the principle of an independent International civil service that principle remains Central to the un's mission and I know you will continue to defend it we now welcome a new Secretary General who will bring fresh energy and new ideas to the task I know that he will find in you as I have the most talented dedicated and conscientious staff that anyone could hope for as we begin the next phase of Our Lives Nan and I will still be with you in spirit I have often said that you can take the man out of the UN but you can't take the UN out of the man thank you once again my dear friends and colleagues I will count on you to carry on your indispensable work and I wish you all success in the years ahead

Channel: UNAUK

Views: 231,161

Keywords: UNAUK, UNA-UK, United, Nations, Association, Kofi, Annan, Farewell, Speech

Id: 9DgivC6G-HM

Length: 2min 51sec (171 seconds)

Published: Mon Feb 12 2007