translated from Spanish: “He was the United Nations”: dies at age 80 the former Secretary-General of the UN, the Ghanaian Kofi Annan

the former Secretary-General of the UN and nobel of the P AZ in 2001, the Ghanaian Kofi Annan, died today at the age of 80, his family reported.
Official Annan Twitter account, relatives issued a message in which pointed out that the death occurred after receiving treatment by a short illness in a hospital in Switzerland.
For now, the family did not want to reveal the disease suffered by the former President of the United Nations and asked for “privacy at this time of mourning”.
“With great sadness, the family Annan and the Kofi Annan Foundation announce that Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the UN and the Nobel Peace Prize, left in peace this Saturday, August 18, after a short illness”, explained their relatives.
“Your spouse, Nane, and their children, Kojo, Ama and girl, were at his side during his last days”, adds the message.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations agency, also echoed the news, and regretted “the loss of a great man, a leader and a visionary”.
“A life well lived, a life that deserves to be celebrated”, added the institution on his Twitter account.
Annan remained active until his last days, leading the delegation of the NGO The Elders, founded by Nelson Mandela, who visited Zimbabwe during the electoral process at the end of July.
The first sub-Saharan UN leader entered the Organization in 1962 and was ascending in its ranks until reaching the general secretariat in 1997, feature that until 2006.
His period as head of the main international agency was marked by its program to reform the institution and its impulse to the support of the international community to Africa and the fight against AIDS.
In 2001 was awarded the Nobel peace along with the United Nations for “their work for a better organized and more peaceful world”.
The Secretary general of the UN, Antonio Guterres, deeply regretted the death of Kofi Annan, who also held that position and passed away today at the age of 80, and he said that his legacy will always be an inspiration for all.
“In these turbulent times, Annan never stopped working to keep alive the values of the United Nations Charter. If legacy will be always an inspiration for everyone,”said Guterres in a statement.
The Portuguese leader added that Annan “was a reference and a guide” and that “in many ways, he was the United Nations”.
Guterres recalled that the deceased, a native of Ghana, made his entire professional career at the UN and became the highest offices to lead it, from where he managed to modernise the organisation “with dignity and determination”.
“Like many, I am proud to call a friend and a mentor to Kofi Annan. I am very honored that I selected to be UN refugee High Commissioner,”said Guterres.
“It was one person could always ask that Council, and I know I wasn’t the only one.” He offered everyone a space for dialogue, a place where the problems could be resolved and where they seek a path towards a world better”, he stressed.
Guterres concluded by giving his condolences to Annan, Nane, spouse and his family, “and to all those who mourn the loss of this proud son of Africa, who became a champion of peace for all mankind”.

Original source in Spanish