Kofi Annan States Quotations

Time and again, when member states and the governments are faced with an insoluble problem, and they're under pressure to do something, that something usually ends up being referred to the U.N.

I would be surprised if the United States would want to place themselves ... in that situation, of being the ones who are seen to be against the interests of the poor, as being the ones who want to ignore the needs and the human dignity of others,

Obviously we didn't get everything we wanted and with 191 member states it's not easy to get an agreement, ... All of us would have wanted more but we can work with what we have been given, and it's a step forward.

Simply put, what the United Nations wants is what the U.S. also wants: a reformed United Nations that is effective, efficient, leaner and relevant to the tasks that member states want to set for us, ... The world has changed and we have to change, we have to adapt and I have given my commitment to the president that I will pursue reforms.

I believe we should be seen as taking concrete steps to achieve the objective of two states living side by side in peace and security in three years' time,

I think the United States government is working very hard with the parties to move the process forward, and I urge and encourage the parties to really work with the United States government to make the compromises necessary and move the process forward,

It appears that the United States will squeak by, paying just enough to avoid losing its vote in the General Assembly. While the United States will avoid this fate for this year, on the larger question - its legal commitment and its moral obligation

When states decide to use force, not in self-defense but to deal with broader threats to international peace and security, there is no substitute for the unique legitimacy provided by the Security Council,

When it comes to peacekeeping, the U.N. can be there and on time, well-equipped and ready to act, if those member states with capacity -- and which help take the decisions -- would also participate in these operations, ... Where the will is not there, and the resources are not made available, the U.N. peacekeepers will arrive late.

which are internationally accepted and which have the broad support of member states and civil society.

The secretary-general has become aware of the fact that UNSCOM directly facilitated the creation of an intelligence collection system for the United States in violation of its mandate,

The states are too high to continue down a dangerous path of diplomatic brinkmanship,

The good news is that we do have an outcome document, ... Obviously we didn't get everything we wanted, and with 191 member states it's not easy to get an agreement. All of us would have wanted more, but we can work with what we have been given, and I think it is an important step forward.

The good news is that we do have an outcome document. Obviously we didn't get everything we wanted, and with 191 member states it's not easy to get an agreement. All of us would have wanted more, but we can work with what we have been given, and I think it is an important step forward.

If member states are going to get a meaningful outcome, there will need to be more give and take.

The budget agreed upon today will enable the organization to continue its work uninterrupted while member states pursue the reform proposals adopted during the 2005 world summit.

And I'm not sure that the US is going to insist on that. I think they've made their point, but I'm not sure the other member states would want to see the millennium development goals dropped or, the worse, expunged from the document.

The U.N. family must do its part, but today I also call yet again on member states to do all they can to ensure a secure environment for U.N. staff as they go about their work in the service of humankind,

I don't think that the United States government rushes to judgment until all the facts are in.