Videos of Kofi Annan’s Lecture and Discussion on Diversity and Peace in the 21st Century

Kofi Annan on jacket of his new book which tells the story of his remarkable time at the center of the world stage.

Kofi Annan on jacket of his new book which tells the story of his remarkable time at the center of the world stage.

FOR COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE AND VIDEOS PLEASE CLICK: The Global Centre for Pluralism

INTRODUCTION: By clicking on the above image or hyperlink you will have an opportunity to see numerous videos and transcripts from an event hosted by the Global Centre for Pluralism as part of its Annual Lecture Series. The 2013 lecture was delivered by Kofi Annan on May 23 at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa, Canada, and included remarks by His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th Ismaili Imam and direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, who is also the Chairman of the Global Centre for Pluralism. In his speech he acknowledged Mr. Kofi Annan’s tireless work to foster peaceful dialogue around the world. Other remarks were given by Canada’s former Governor General, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, and the Global Centre’s Secretary General John McNee. The Editor-in-chief of The Globe and Mail, John Stackhouse, led a Q & A with Mr. Kofi Annan.

Again, for a very comprehensive coverage of the event as well as to view all the videos, please click on The Global Centre for Pluralism.

The following are other links covering the event:

1. Readers may wish to view an edited version of John Stackhouse’s Q & A session with Mr. Annan at the newspaper’s website  by clicking on Kofi Annan in Conversation with Globe and Mail’s John Stackhouse. 

2. TRANSCRIPT: “As you know, Kofi Annan retired from his official post six years ago. But he has in no way retired from his role as an active global statesman – tirelessly working to foster peaceful dialogue around the world…” — His Highness the Aga Khanmore at AKDN

3. TRANSCRIPT: “Ladies and gentlemen, Kenya and Syria are two different examples from my own experience which show why the Aga Khan and the Canadian Government are to be commended for having the vision and generosity to create this institution [Global Centre for Pluralism]….” — Kofi Annan… more at Kofi Annan Foundation (note, this is a pre-released text).

4. ARTICLE: To read The Globe and Mail report of the speech, please click Syria’s civil war likely to explode – Kofi Annan. The article includes several comments posted by its readers, and you might wish to participate in the discussion.

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A Life in War and Peace: A Statesman’s Forum with Former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan

Readers may be interested in Kofi Annan’s presentation and a Q & A session at the Brookings institute in Washington DC to mark the release of his memoir Interventions: A Life in War and Peace (Penguin Press, 2012). Please click on Kofi Annan – Brookings Lecture and Q & A Session or image below:

Please click to watch Kofi Annan's presentation  at the Brookings Institution.

Please click to watch Kofi Annan’s presentation at the Brookings Institution.

Watch a Recent Interview of Kofi Annan and Join Today’s Live Webcast of His Lecture at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat

NOTE: This post has now been superseded. Please see new post by clicking Videos of Kofi Annan’s Lecture and Discussion on Diversity and Peace in the 21st Century

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Kofi Annan to be interviewed by John Stackhouse of the Globe and Mail

Please  click on THE GLOBE AND MAIL today, Thursday May 23 at 6:30 p.m. (i.e. 18:30 EST North America; 23:30 London, England; 01:30 a.m. Friday May 24, Nairobi, Kenya; 03:30 a.m. Friday May 24,  Karachi, Pakistan) for the discussion.

Kofi Annan

Kofi Annan

Join the Globe and Mail today,  Thursday, May 23, at 6:30 p.m. (18:30 EST) for a live webcast of the Global Centre for Pluralism’s Annual Lecture delivered by Kofi Annan. The former Secretary-General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Prize winner will discuss sectarian division around the world and how diversity may impact peace in the decades to come,. Mr. Annan’s 20-minute lecture will be followed by a 10-minute Q & A with editor-in-chief of The Globe and Mail, John Stackhouse. This will be followed by a 20-minute Q & A with the audience.

Please  click on The Globe and Mail on May 23 at 6:30 p.m. (i.e. 18:30 EST North America; 23:30 London, England; 01:30 a.m. Friday May 24, Nairobi, Kenya; 03:30 a.m. Friday May 24,  Karachi, Pakistan) for the discussion.

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“Kofi Annan has been remarkable in his judgment” — H.H. The Aga Khan

His Highness the Aga Khan. Photo: John MacDonald. ©

His Highness the Aga Khan. Photo: John MacDonald. ©

Peter Mansbridge:  Who’s showing leadership in this world right now in terms of the major global issues? Who do you look to as a leader, whether it’s a political leader or not?

 His Highness the Aga Khan: I think there are a number of people in the U.N. system who’ve shown leadership, who have shown balanced judgment on these issues. Because when all is said and done, it’s the balance of the judgment that counts. And it’s understanding the issues. I think, amongst others, Kofi Annan has been remarkable in his understanding of the issues. He’s also had a team of people around him who are very good. (Link to transcript of CBC interview at end of post).

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Kofi Annan in Conversation with the Managing Editor of Time Magazine

The video “A Conversation with Kofi Annan” is in honor of the publication of his book Interventions: A Life in War and Peace.

To watch video, click Here or on video image above

The former Secretary-General of the United Nations discusses the UN’s relationship with America, its role in interventions around the world, Syria, China, and more.

(Interviewed by Richard Stengel, Managing Editor of TIME, at the Carnegie Corporation of New York, February 8, 2013, in an event presented with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace).

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Date posted: Wednesday, May 22, 2013.
Last updated: Thursday, May 23, 2013 (book jacket)

For transcript of CBC interview please click: One on One: Peter Mansbridge with His Highness the Aga Khan

“Islam: A Mosaic, Not a Monolith” – a brief but ambitious essay by Vartan Gregorian

“[Vartan] Gregorian is a national treasure, one of the most interesting intellects and
personalities in the United States” – Houston Chronicle

To download essay, please click: Islam – A Mosaic, Not a Monolith

May 26, 1996: His Highness the Aga Khan receives a standing ovation at the conclusion of the Baccalaureate Address at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island. Next to him is Vartan Gregorian who was then President of the University. In 2010, the Ismaili Imam established the Aga Khan Visiting Professor of Islamic Humanities at Brown University in honour of Vartan Gregorian, who is currently the President of Carnegie Corporation of New York. Please click on image to download his essay "Islam: A Mosaic, Not a Monolith."

May 26, 1996: His Highness the Aga Khan receives a standing ovation at the conclusion of the Baccalaureate Address at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island. Next to him is Vartan Gregorian who was then President of the University. In 2010, the Ismaili Imam established the Aga Khan Visiting Professor of Islamic Humanities at Brown University in honour of Vartan Gregorian, who is currently the President of Carnegie Corporation of New York. Please click on image to download his essay “Islam: A Mosaic, Not a Monolith.”

ESSAY EXCERPT

“Huntington [author of The Clash of Civilizations and The Remaking of the World Order] and others who write about a clash of civilizations do not recognize that class, tribal, family, personal, ethnic, cultural, economic, and national interests have always defied a unity of purpose that transcends all these divisions….instances when the Muslim world was a unified monolith have been extremely rare. Throughout Islamic history, the gravitational pull of regional, dynastic, and since the nineteenth century nationalist interests has consistently outweighed the spiritual affiliations of some idealized, transcendent, organic umma. If history is a guide, it shows that in Islam, as in most major religions, there is a broad gulf between the ideal of unity and the realities on the ground… Read More

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For a profile of the author, please click Aga Khan Gifts Brown University in Honour of Vartan Gregorian