Kofi & Nane Annan - NGOs Bid Farewell after 10 Years!
December 29th, 2006
Monica Willard, URI Representative at the U.N., reports: Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Mrs. Nane Annan were honored at a reception held on November 29, 2006 to thank them for their 10 years of service to the UN and to the world. The Hague Appeal for Peace invited a representative group of NGOs [Non-governmental Organizations] to give the Annans a civil society Thank You Party and gift.
A beautiful collage was made for them as a parting gift by artists Laurel Marx and Heide Nitze. It shows the NGO names raining down on the UN from the heavens. One of those rain drops says “United Religions Initiative”.
The collage also says “thank you” in the six official UN languages and in Swedish for Mrs. Annnan and Fante for the Secretary-General. The collage is highlighted by a peace dove lighting the sky and completed with quotes from the UN Charter. I used the beautiful pictures from the Global Campaign for Peace Education Newsletter to share this event and the gift with you.
I’d also like to let you know that Secretary-General Kofi Annan sent a personal letter to thank me and the United Religions Initiative for our involvement in the International Day of Peace at the UN and “in developing the wider involvement of students in peace activities”. I share the final sentence in the hope that you can feel the appreciation for yourself too. “Mrs. Annan joins me in sending you our warm appreciation and best wishes for continued success in your endeavors in the cause of peace and understanding”.
It is an honor to represent the URI at the United Nations!