Kofi Annan talks Syria, military interventions and responsibility of state at OYW
Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan addressed the One Young World delegates in Pittsburgh this afternoon. Annan talked about his recent book Military Interventions: A Life in War and Peace and promised each delegate a free copy of the book. He warned that the military intervention in Syria will not work and that political settlement is the only solution.
After his speech, some of the delegates had a chance to ask Annan questions and one of the questions that they really wanted to get an answer to was Syria: a delegate from Pittsburgh asked whether Annan believed that Lakhdar Brahimi, the current Joint Special Representative for Syria appointed after Kofi Annan's resignation, will succeed in bringing peace to Syria; the second question came from a Turkish delegate, she asked Annan how the UN could turn a blind eye to atrocities happening in Syria and why wouldn't it stop violence that is spilling over Syria's borders into her native country Turkey.
Kofi Annan said that Syrian conflict is complex. That's one of the reasons why he agreed to serve as the Special Representative. "Syria is not Libya. It will not implode. It will explode well beyond its borders if we don't handle it well," Kofi Annan said.
He also had few words of advice for the generation of future leaders. Here is a synopsis in tweets from the attendees:
You must develop self awareness and build from experience. Failure and disappointments enrich lives - Kofi Annan #OYW twitter.com/smalimustafa/s…
— Muhammed Ali Mustafa (@smalimustafa) October 21, 2012
Annan on talking with dictators: Make "peace not with your friends, (but) with your enemies. ... You shake hands with the devil ... ." #OYW
— Adam Smeltz (@SmeltzTrib) October 21, 2012
We have no choice. We have to learn to live together. We have to learn to work together: Former Secretary General Kofi Annan #oyw @kofiannan
— WAC Pittsburgh (@WorldPittsburgh) October 21, 2012
“I grew up with the sense that #change is possible, and I’ve spent my whole life believing that” -@kofiannan @oneyoungworld #OYW
— david jones (@davidjoneshavas) October 21, 2012
"Be prepared for disappointment, not every day is christmas, but make sure you learn from your mistakes and setbacks" -@kofiannan at #oyw
— DmitrievDmitry (@DmitrievDmitry) October 21, 2012
"@oywpittsburgh: "Where leaders fail to lead, the people can make them follow."- @kofiannan #OYW"
— Dionisius Aldo (@dionisiusaldo) October 21, 2012
@kofiannan: put pressure on politicians, make them understand it is your future you are fighting for. #OYW
— Abdullah Al-Maisari (@Ronaldo_Yemen) October 21, 2012
@kofiannan: "We have to bring the international community together to address today's major threats" OYW #OYWKurdistan twitter.com/nevintosun/sta…
— Nevin Tosun (@nevintosun) October 21, 2012
"People in democracy do not starve. If you starve them once, you are out of power forever." @kofiannan #OYW
— Karissa (@RissaMil) October 21, 2012
I have never felt more proud to be a global citizen than at this moment with @kofiannan in a room of change makers! @oneyoungworld #OYW
— Rachel KallemWhitman (@RKDubs) October 21, 2012
A Swahili proverb; "You cannot bend the wind, so bend the sail" #OYW counsellor @kofiannan inspires this years Delegation with his wisdom.
— One Young World (@OneYoungWorld) October 21, 2012
Kofi Annan is a magical speaker. He named Nelson Mandela and FW De Klerk as his heroes!!! It was an honour to be able to listen to him #OYW
— Mpho Sedibe (@MphoSedibe) October 21, 2012
@kofiannan #FPAnnan "The international community has a crucial role to play in building healthy societies based on the rule of law."
— Jago Kosolosky (@JagoK1) October 18, 2012
{brightcovePG2}1916421251001{/brightcovePG2}A panorama of Kofi Annan and audience at @oneyoungworld #OYW #OYWPittsburgh twitter.com/laurakshore/st…
— Laura Shore (@laurakshore) October 21, 2012