コフィ・アナン国連元事務総長の追悼（明石康特別顧問からナーネ夫人への手紙）
20 August, 2018
Dear Mrs. Nane Maria Annan,
I am immensely saddened to hear the shocking news that my good friend and colleague of many years at the United Nations, Kofi Annan passed away on 18 August after short illness. I offer my deepest condolences to you and your children, even though it is good for me to know that you were all by his side during his last days.
Kofi Annan was a rare human being as well as an exemplary international civil servant. He always offered most helpful advice and valuable opinions to his colleagues, including myself and many other UN staff members regarding our indispensable but often baffling tasks for a better and more peaceful world.
Kofi was at all times a fine example for all of us. He had an indomitable spirit of doing his very best to cope with so many impossible tasks.
Let us hope that ideals which he cherished and did his best to realize will continue to animate all of us who continue to struggle for a peaceful and sensible earth.
I join all others in many parts of the world to pray for Kofi’s eternal happiness and tranquility in heaven.
Yours sincerely
(Signature)
Yasushi Akashi
Former Under-Secretary-General
of the United Nations
右から３人目が
コフィ・アナン国連元事務総長
左から３人目が
明石康特別顧問