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international

Keeping

Multilateralism alive

in a Fragmented World

Interview with
Corinne Momal-Vanian

Executive Director Kofi Annan Foundation

After a long and distinguished to become Executive Director of the Kofi
career within the United Nations, Annan Foundation. I am married and have two
Mrs. Nane Annan Momal- wonderful grown children.
Vanian was appointed Director 2. You lead the highly respected Kofi Annan
of the Kofi Annan Foundation in Foundation, established by Nobel Peace Prize
2020. Having worked closely with laureate and one of the most admired Secretaries-
Kofi Annan during his years as General of the United Nations. What does this
Secretary-General of the United role mean to you personally and professionally?
Nations, there was perhaps no This role has meant a great deal to me. It has been
one better suited to continue his both an honor and a privilege to be associated
legacy of dialogue, diplomacy with Kofi Annan’s name and entrusted with
and international cooperation. carrying forward his legacy. After more than
three decades at the United Nations, it also
Throughout her career, Mrs. Momal-Vanian has felt liberating to work within a small, agile
been deeply involved in some of the most important organization free from bureaucracy.
diplomatic and humanitarian challenges facing
the international community. Today, through the The team at the Foundation is exceptional:
work of the Kofi Annan Foundation, she continues young, committed, and creative. I am actually
to promote peace, democracy, youth engagement leaving my position at the end of this month,
and multilateral cooperation at a time when the after six years, but leading this team has been
world is facing growing instability, conflict and both a privilege and a lot of fun.
uncertainty.
3. If we remember correctly, you worked closely
We were curious to learn more about Mrs. with Kofi Annan as Special Assistant to the
Momal-Vanian, her vision, and the work of the Secretary-General. Could you tell us about that
Foundation in these turbulent times. experience? What was it like to work alongside
1. Your face is familiar to everyone at the UN such an exceptional leader?
in Geneva and New York, as well as to much of Yes, I served as Special Assistant to Kofi Annan
the international community. Could you begin at the end of his second term, although I had also
by telling us a little about yourself and your worked in his Executive Office at the beginning
journey? of his first mandate. It was an extraordinary
My life has largely been shaped by diplomacy. experience, as anyone who worked closely with
I grew up traveling across the Middle East, him will tell you. Those were, in many ways, the
Africa, and Europe with my parents, as my heyday of multilateralism. There was a genuine
father was a French diplomat. After studying sense of possibility and hope that has faded in
business administration and international recent years, as countries have increasingly
relations in Paris, I joined the United Nations retreated from multilateral cooperation.
at the age of 23 and spent 33 years serving the
organization in Baghdad, Bangkok, New York, Kofi Annan had a unique ability to bring
and Geneva. In 2020, I left the United Nations together people from all walks of life and

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