PM Modi condoles death of Nobel Laureates Kofi Annan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday condoled the demise of former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, describing him a “great African leader” and conscience keeper of international peace and security.

"We express our profound sorrow at the passing away of Nobel laureate and former UNSG Kofi Annan. The world has lost not only a great African diplomat and humanitarian but also a conscience keeper of international peace and security," Modi tweeted.

Annan, the 80-year-old Nobel peace prize winner passed away “peacefully” on Saturday after a short illness. He served two terms as UN Secretary-General from January 1, 1997, to December 31, 2006.

“It is with immense sadness that the Annan family and the Kofi Annan Foundation announce that Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Laureate, passed away peacefully on Saturday 18th August after a short illness,” his foundation tweeted.

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The prime minister said that Annan’s contribution to the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) was significant and he will always be remembered for that.

"Kofi Annan's significant contribution to the MDGs (Millenium Development Goals) will always be remembered. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this hour of grief. May his soul rest in peace," Modi said.

Apart from Modi, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who served as Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations during Kofi Annan's leadership, also expressed his grief on passing away of his “elder brother and mentor”.

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“Deeply shocked to learn of the passing of my friend & mentor #KofiAnnan. The last time we spoke he had accepted my invitation to come to Kerala in 2022 to celebrate his "thousand moons". He was so fit I had no doubt he would go on well past that date. I have lost an elder brother,” Tharoor twitted.