By Kofi Annan
Boutros Boutros-Ghali took the helm of the United Nations at a pivotal time. The end of the Cold War brought new hope, but we quickly realized this brave new world would be far more difficult to manage than we had imagined.
With characteristic directness and intellectual agility, Boutros sought to confront and overcome the complex challenges of the day. It was on his watch that the Agenda for Peace was launched, making the case for preventive diplomacy. He will be remembered for helping prepare the U.N. for a world where states would no longer be able to control or suppress the forces and furies that ensnare them.
Annan, a former U.N. Secretary-General, is the chair of the Kofi Annan Foundation
More Must-Reads From TIME
- Why We're Spending So Much Money Now
- The Fight to Free Evan Gershkovich
- Meet the 2024 Women of the Year
- John Kerry's Next Move
- The Quiet Work Trees Do for the Planet
- Breaker Sunny Choi Is Heading to Paris
- Column: The Internet Made Romantic Betrayal Even More Devastating
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com