Indonesia Mourns 'Great Peacemaker, True Humanitarian' Kofi Annan
Jakarta. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi paid tribute to former United Nations Secretary General and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kofi Annan, who died in the early hours of Saturday (18/08) aged 80.
Retno took to Twitter to express her condolences shortly after Annan's departure was announced by his family and the Kofi Annan Foundation.
"My deepest condolences on the passing of Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General. We have lost a great peacemaker and true humanitarian," Retno said.
She also shared how she had been working closely with Annan on conflict resolution in Myanmar.
Duka cita saya yang dalam atas meninggalnya Kofi Annan, mantan Sekjen PBB. Kita kehilangan seorang pegiat perdamaian hebat dan humanis sejati. Dalam dua tahun terakhir, saya bekerja sangat erat dengan Mr. Annan, termasuk di Myanmar. Semoga Yang Mulia beristirahat dengan damai.
— Menteri Luar Negeri Republik Indonesia (@Menlu_RI) August 18, 2018
Annan led the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, which released its final report last August with recommendations on ending violence and promoting development in the conflict-torn region.
Annan served two terms as UN chief from 1997 to 2006. He shared the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize with the United Nations for his humanitarian work and efforts to reform the world organization.
Annan passed away in hospital in Bern, Switzerland, after a brief illness. He was surrounded by family members, the Kofi Annan Foundatio said in a statement.
UN secretary general Antonio Guterres described Annan as a "guiding force for good."
"In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations. He rose through the ranks to lead the organization into the new millennium with matchless dignity and determination," Guterres said.
Yousef al-Othaimeen, secretary general of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC), said the world has lost "a visionary leader, whose absence will be particularly felt by the OIC for his contribution to peace, security and development around the globe."
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