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The following article was originally published by the International Peace Institute. “Diplomacy is about the alignment of interests, and politics is the pursuit of interests, often in contradiction to other parties’ interests,” said Alan Doss, the veteran leader of multiple United Nations peacekeeping missions. “I found that missions were taking the…
Foundation president Alan Doss on Diplomacy and Politics in United Nations Peacekeeping
The following article was originally published by the International Peace Institute. “Diplomacy is about the alignment of interests, and politics is the pursuit of interests, often in contradiction to other parties’ interests,” said Alan Doss, the veteran leader of multiple United Nations peacekeeping missions. “I found that missions were taking the diplomacy route, but those in power were on political pursuits.” Mr. Doss, now the President of the Kofi Annan Foundation, was speaking at a February 10th Speaker Series discussion of his new book ‘A Peacekeeper in Africa: Learning from UN Interventions in Other People’s Wars’. The book is…
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The Elders today strongly criticised the US decision to move its Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem as a serious blow to peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and urged other countries not to follow suit. They reaffirmed their long-held position that the city of Jerusalem must be shared between Israelis and Palestinians as…
The Elders deplore US Embassy move to Jerusalem as threat to peace
The Elders today strongly criticised the US decision to move its Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem as a serious blow to peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and urged other countries not to follow suit. They reaffirmed their long-held position that the city of Jerusalem must be shared between Israelis and Palestinians as part of a two-state solution based on the internationally-recognised 1967 border, which respects the human and political rights of all its residents. Kofi Annan, Chair of The Elders and former UN Secretary-General, said: “Repeated UN resolutions make clear that the status of Jerusalem can only be changed by…
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The Elders today called on the Israeli Government to fully comply with international humanitarian law and respect the right to peaceful protest of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip. Their call follows the killing of 48 demonstrators and injury of almost 7,000 others, many of them children, by the Israeli army in…
The Elders demand Israel respects international law to stop further Gaza protest killings
The Elders today called on the Israeli Government to fully comply with international humanitarian law and respect the right to peaceful protest of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip. Their call follows the killing of 48 demonstrators and injury of almost 7,000 others, many of them children, by the Israeli army in the past month. They warned of the danger of more casualties in the run-up to 15 May, when Palestinians mark what they call the “nakba”, or catastrophe – a day after Israel commemorates the 70th anniversary of its independence. Two-thirds of Gaza’s residents are classified by the UN…
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This news release originally appeared on the website of the Elders. The Elders strongly condemned President Trump’s decision today to withdraw the United States from the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran: the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA. They called on the other signatories to the deal – France, Germany, the…
The Elders urge JCPOA signatories to stick to deal despite US withdrawal
This news release originally appeared on the website of the Elders. The Elders strongly condemned President Trump’s decision today to withdraw the United States from the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran: the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA. They called on the other signatories to the deal – France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia, China and the European Union — to continue to do everything in their power to sustain its spirit and implementation. Kofi Annan, Chair of The Elders, former UN Secretary-General and a Nobel Peace Laureate, said: “The JCPOA was a hard-won diplomatic achievement and proof of…
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The Elders today expressed their deep concern about the potential risks posed by “Brexit” — the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union — to the Good Friday Agreement that has helped secure peace in Northern Ireland for the past two decades. At their recent board meeting in London,…
The Elders warn Brexit “hard border” could pose threat to peace in Northern Ireland
The Elders today expressed their deep concern about the potential risks posed by “Brexit” — the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union — to the Good Friday Agreement that has helped secure peace in Northern Ireland for the past two decades. At their recent board meeting in London, The Elders hailed the twentieth anniversary of the Agreement and the inspiration it has given to others around the world seeking to end bloody conflicts. They warned that the imposition of a “hard border” between the six counties of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as part…
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The Elders have urged the governments of 31 countries, including Brazil, India and South Africa, to sign a UN Code of Conduct initiative committing them not to obstruct credible Security Council resolutions designed to halt or prevent mass atrocities. The Code of Conduct was launched by the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT)…
The Elders urge member states to take action at UN to prevent mass atrocities
The Elders have urged the governments of 31 countries, including Brazil, India and South Africa, to sign a UN Code of Conduct initiative committing them not to obstruct credible Security Council resolutions designed to halt or prevent mass atrocities. The Code of Conduct was launched by the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) group of countries in October 2015 in response to the Security Council’s failure to take action in Syria, and it has now been signed by nearly two-thirds of UN member states. The Elders believe that recent events in Syria underscore the need for concerted action to prevent mass…
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The Elders today encouraged all political actors in Zimbabwe to deliver integrity and transparency across the country’s transition, including a level playing field ahead of the upcoming elections. They reaffirmed how important it is that the electoral process and subsequent actions lead to a significant strengthening of civilian authority at all levels…
The Elders encourage integrity and transparency across Zimbabwe's transition
The Elders today encouraged all political actors in Zimbabwe to deliver integrity and transparency across the country’s transition, including a level playing field ahead of the upcoming elections. They reaffirmed how important it is that the electoral process and subsequent actions lead to a significant strengthening of civilian authority at all levels of the state. The concerns of civil society around rule of law, security and a fair process of electoral registration need to be heard before, during and after the elections to help ensure legitimacy. The Elders encouraged the Government of Zimbabwe to foster open dialogue with opposition representatives,…
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This news release originally appeared on the website of the Elders. The Elders expressed their deep alarm at the prospect of a further escalation of the war in Syria following the latest reported chemical weapons attack, and called on all parties to avoid further military action which could provoke uncontrollable war. Kofi…
The Elders warn against escalation to 'uncontrollable war' in Syria
This news release originally appeared on the website of the Elders. The Elders expressed their deep alarm at the prospect of a further escalation of the war in Syria following the latest reported chemical weapons attack, and called on all parties to avoid further military action which could provoke uncontrollable war. Kofi Annan, Chair of The Elders and former United Nations Secretary-General, said: “This is an extremely delicate moment when cool heads and sober judgement are required. A rush to further military action should be avoided. This will allow a thorough independent investigation into the alleged chemical weapons attack on…
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The Elders’ statement on the passing of South African anti-Apartheid campaigner and former first lady Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. This news release originally appeared on the website of the Elders. The Elders express their condolences at the death of South African anti-Apartheid campaigner and former first lady Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela became an international…
The Elders mourn the death of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
The Elders’ statement on the passing of South African anti-Apartheid campaigner and former first lady Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. This news release originally appeared on the website of the Elders. The Elders express their condolences at the death of South African anti-Apartheid campaigner and former first lady Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela became an international symbol of resistance to apartheid following the imprisonment of her then husband, Nelson Mandela. Praised for her courageous defiance during a brutal period of state terror in apartheid South Africa, her resolve – even in the most difficult personal circumstances – inspired many to continue. Kofi Annan, Chair of…
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This news release originally appeared on the website of the Elders. The Elders warned today that new nuclear doctrines and defence rhetoric from the United States and Russia risk a dangerous escalation of tensions that threaten the foundations of global multilateral security infrastructure. They expressed their concern at the review of nuclear…
The Elders warn against US, Russian nuclear strategy escalation
This news release originally appeared on the website of the Elders. The Elders warned today that new nuclear doctrines and defence rhetoric from the United States and Russia risk a dangerous escalation of tensions that threaten the foundations of global multilateral security infrastructure. They expressed their concern at the review of nuclear posture recently announced by the United States that raised the prospect of “low-yield” nuclear weapons and a possible nuclear strike in response to a non-nuclear threat. The Elders also voiced their alarm at the claims in President Vladimir Putin’s state of the union address that Russia has developed…
