United Nations Foundation and Kofi Annan Foundation Welcome Publication of Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Papers

Washington, D.C.  (February 7, 2013) — The United Nations Foundation and the Kofi Annan Foundation today welcomed the publication of a large selection of Kofi Annan’s papers during his term as United Nations Secretary-General from 1997 to 2006. The publication of selected public and declassified papers will be released at an event at Yale University today and an event at The City College of New York tomorrow.

“I hope that this publication will provide important insights into the work of the Secretary-General and the diversity of challenges facing the United Nations,” said Annan. “These volumes help to demonstrate the vital role of the United Nations, and the need for continued support for its mission to build a peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous global community.”

United Nations Foundation President and CEO, Kathy Calvin, added, “In the past it has taken decades after the end of a Secretary-General’s term for researchers and scholars to gain access to records of the office. By supporting the rapid publication of these papers, Kofi Annan is making a huge contribution to further study of the United Nations and its recent history.”

The publication, a joint project of Yale University and The City College of New York led by Professor Jean Krasno, includes official records, selected private papers, interviews, op-ed pieces and articles authored by former Secretary-General Annan. The collection will be immediately available in a five-volume paper publication.

The project was launched in 2007 with the support of the United Nations Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Arthur Ross Foundation.

Discussions are underway to develop a web-based subject-searchable document, which would make it the first collection of a Secretary-General’s papers available electronically.

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About The United Nations Foundation

The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by global corporations, foundations, governments, and individuals. For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org

About The Kofi Annan Foundation

The Kofi Annan Foundation aims to promote better global governance and strengthen the capacities of people and countries to achieve a fairer, more secure world. To advance this mission the Kofi Annan Foundation has developed programmes and partnerships in Sustainable Development and Peace and Security. For more information, visit www.kofiannanfoundation.org