1
Introduction
The day after his appointment by the General Assembly as the seventh Secretary-General
of the United Nations on December 17, 1996, Kofi Annan was asked during a press conference
how he would define the job and role of the office to which he had just been elected. He
responded that, “the Secretary-General’s role is multifaceted. Some have referred to it as an
administrator and manager. That is an essential part of the work. But he also has a political and
diplomatic role, and above all, a moral voice which should be heard periodically when
necessary.”
i
Nearly eight years later, in response to a similar question, Annan further indicated
that, “In jobs like these, it’s important to be able to keep your balance.”
ii
This raises the question
which lies at the heart of this essay: how has Kofi Annan sought to balance these various roles,
especially when they seem to push in different directions? Furthermore, to what extent have
Kofi Annan’s own personal ethical and religious values influenced the manner in which he has
managed this balance, in particular when it comes to harnessing the moral voice afforded to both
the office of Secretary-General and the individual who occupies it?
Although the first eight years of his tenure have not been without frustration and
disappointment, Annan is widely regarded to have performed the often competing tasks and
responsibilities required of him very effectively. For example, in announcing its decision to
award the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize to Kofi Annan and the organization he heads, the Norwegian
Nobel Committee observed that:
Kofi Annan has devoted almost his entire working life to the U.N. As Secretary-
General, he has been pre-eminent in bringing new life to the organization. While
clearly underlining the U.N.'s traditional responsibility for peace and security, he
has also emphasized its obligations with regard to human rights. He has risen to
such new challenges as HIV/AIDS and international terrorism, and brought about
more efficient utilization of the U.N.'s modest resources. In an organization that
can hardly become more than its members permit, he has made clear that
Convention