/ 10 December 2004

SA heavyweights defend Kofi Annan

A group of high-profile South Africans, including former president Nelson Mandela, have condemned attempts to force United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to resign.

Mandela, Graca Machel — a member of the Board of the United Nations Foundation and chairperson of the Board of the Vaccine Fund — Bishop Desmond Tutu, author Nadine Gordimer and human rights lawyer George Bizos signed an open letter sent on Thursday.

It read: ”This letter strongly condemns attempt to bring about the resignation of the secretary-general of United Nations Kofi Annan.”

Annan has come under fire over the UN oil-for-food programme for Iraq, in which his son was involved.

Several US politicians and newspapers have called for Annan to be replaced.

The letter said those advocating Annan’s resignation were using the pretext of his son’s alleged involvement in the programme to get rid of him.

The real reason, however, was Annan’s criticism of some of the United States’ actions in Iraq.

”The secretary general’s statement was fully in accord with the fundamental principle and purpose of the United Nations that, as it appears a reminder is needed, is to promote and maintain human rights irrespective of what nation or country breaches them.

”This is within the United Nations’ founding objective of attaining world peace and justice.”

”Those who call for his resignation betray the objectivity his position as secretary general demands and regard United Nations as a mouthpiece to extol and exonerate the policies of the United States of America, right or wrong.”

The letter, a copy of which was faxed to Sapa, said the United Nations’ inability to deal effectively with certain situations could be partly attributed to the failure of world powers — particularly the United States — to support the UN.

”This instance of the reprehensible and unjust attack on the secretary general for doing his job with integrity and admirable courage is the latest example of the attitude,” the group said.

”Kofi Annan has done a great deal to create high morale within the United Nations, devoting his life with all his energy, intellect and deep human understanding, to the enormous task of justifying the ever-increasing necessity of the United Nations in a world of continuing conflict.”

The five said they joined 54 African nations, the European Union, Britain, France, Russia and China in their support for Annan.

They were speaking in their personal capacities.

The US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations recently alleged that it had uncovered evidence that Saddam Hussein’s government raised more than $21,3-billion in illegal revenue by subverting UN sanctions and the oil-for-food programme.

The UN Secretariat, headed by Annan, ran the programme. – Sapa