REMARKS BY THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARY-STATE BANQUET HELD IN HONOUR OF SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS

REMARKS BY THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARY-

STATE BANQUET HELD IN HONOUR OF SECRETARY

GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATION 28 AUGUST,2002

MASERU SUN CABANAS

YOUR MAJESTIES, THE KING AND QUEEN ‘MASENATE BERENG SEEISO;

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE PRIME MINISTER AND MRS. ‘MATHATO MOSISILI;

OUR GUEST OF HONOUR, YOUR EXCELLENCY, THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND MRS. NANE ANNAN;

HONOURABLE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE;

HONOURABLE SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY;

YOUR LORDSHIP THE CHIEF JUSTICE;

HONOURABLE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER;

HONOURABLE MINISTERS;

YOUR LORDSHIPS JUDGES OF THE HIGH COURT;

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE

YOUR EXCELLENCIES HEADS OF DIPLOMATIC MISSION;

HONOURABLE ATTORNEY GENERAL;

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS;

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

My task tonight is an easy one as I am not expected to make a speech. It has pleased His majesty the King, to host a State Banquet in honour of the Secretary General of the united Nations, His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan, who is in our midst this evening following an invitation to visit the Kingdom of Lesotho that was extended to him by His Majesty’s Government.

It has further pleased His Majesty to bestow upon His Excellency, Mr. Kofi Annan, the highest award in this country “The Knight Commander of the Most Courteous Order of Lesotho”. Indeed this is the country’s highest civilian honour. It has been awarded to Heads of State and it recognizes the best that the Basotho Nation stands for and can cover in a wide range of activities.

It is in recognition of his outstanding contribution in the promotion of peace, stability, democracy and good relations among the nations of the world, that His Majesty deemed it befitting to bestow upon the Secretary-General this award.

Mr. Kofi Annan is the Seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations. The first Secretary-General to be elected from the ranks of United Nations staff, he began his first term on 1^st January, 1997. On 29 June 2001, acting on a recommendation by the Security Council, the General Assembly appointed him by acclamation to a second term of office, beginning on 1^st January, 2002 and ending on 31^st December, 2006.

Mr. Annan was born in Kumasi, Ghana on 8^th April, 1938. He studied at the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi and completed his undergraduate work in economics at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.A. in 1961. From 1961 to 1962, he undertook graduate studies in economics at the Institute Universitaire des hautes etudes internationals in Geneva. As a 1971-1972 Sloan Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of technology, Mr. Annan received a Master of Science Degree in Management.

Among several of his achievements, Mr. Annan joined the United Nations System in 1962 as an Administrative and Budget Officer with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva. Since then, he has served with the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Ismailia, the office of the United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva; and, at UN Headquarters in New York, as Assistant Secretary-General for Programme Planning, Budget and Finance, and Controller (1990-1992).

Mr. Annan has therefore served the UN System for several years with outstanding qualities, this is why on 10 December, 2001 the Secretary-General and the United received a Noble Peace Prize.

He is married to Nane Annan and their marriage is blessed with three children.

His Majesty the King will be invited to deliver a statement, after which he will graciously bestow upon His Excellency, Mr. Kofi Annan, the “The Knight Commander of the Most Courteous Order of Lesotho” award.

Thereafter, His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan will deliver a response. It is thereafter that His Majesty the King graciously invites all of us to enjoy the dinner.

I shall make an announcement when Their Majesties and other Distinguished Guest are ready to take leave of us at which point I shall kindly ask us to sing the national Anthem.

It is now my honour and privilege to humbly request Your Majesty, to approach the Podium, in order to deliver Your remarks.

YOUR MAJESTY !!!

	REMARKS BY THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARY-STATE BANQUET HELD IN HONOUR OF SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
	REMARKS BY THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARY- STATE BANQUET HELD IN HONOUR OF SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATION 28 AUGUST,2002 MASERU SUN CABANAS YOUR MAJESTIES, THE KING AND QUEEN ‘MASENATE BERENG SEEISO; THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE PRIME MINISTER AND MRS. ‘MATHATO MOSISILI; OUR GUEST OF HONOUR, YOUR EXCELLENCY, THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND MRS. NANE ANNAN; HONOURABLE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE; HONOURABLE SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY; YOUR LORDSHIP THE CHIEF JUSTICE; HONOURABLE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER; HONOURABLE MINISTERS; YOUR LORDSHIPS JUDGES OF THE HIGH COURT; MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE YOUR EXCELLENCIES HEADS OF DIPLOMATIC MISSION; HONOURABLE ATTORNEY GENERAL; DISTINGUISHED GUESTS; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. My task tonight is an easy one as I am not expected to make a speech. It has pleased His majesty the King, to host a State Banquet in honour of the Secretary General of the united Nations, His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan, who is in our midst this evening following an invitation to visit the Kingdom of Lesotho that was extended to him by His Majesty’s Government. It has further pleased His Majesty to bestow upon His Excellency, Mr. Kofi Annan, the highest award in this country “The Knight Commander of the Most Courteous Order of Lesotho”. Indeed this is the country’s highest civilian honour. It has been awarded to Heads of State and it recognizes the best that the Basotho Nation stands for and can cover in a wide range of activities. It is in recognition of his outstanding contribution in the promotion of peace, stability, democracy and good relations among the nations of the world, that His Majesty deemed it befitting to bestow upon the Secretary-General this award. Mr. Kofi Annan is the Seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations. The first Secretary-General to be elected from the ranks of United Nations staff, he began his first term on 1^st January, 1997. On 29 June 2001, acting on a recommendation by the Security Council, the General Assembly appointed him by acclamation to a second term of office, beginning on 1^st January, 2002 and ending on 31^st December, 2006. Mr. Annan was born in Kumasi, Ghana on 8^th April, 1938. He studied at the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi and completed his undergraduate work in economics at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.A. in 1961. From 1961 to 1962, he undertook graduate studies in economics at the Institute Universitaire des hautes etudes internationals in Geneva. As a 1971-1972 Sloan Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of technology, Mr. Annan received a Master of Science Degree in Management. Among several of his achievements, Mr. Annan joined the United Nations System in 1962 as an Administrative and Budget Officer with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva. Since then, he has served with the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Ismailia, the office of the United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva; and, at UN Headquarters in New York, as Assistant Secretary-General for Programme Planning, Budget and Finance, and Controller (1990-1992). Mr. Annan has therefore served the UN System for several years with outstanding qualities, this is why on 10 December, 2001 the Secretary-General and the United received a Noble Peace Prize. He is married to Nane Annan and their marriage is blessed with three children. His Majesty the King will be invited to deliver a statement, after which he will graciously bestow upon His Excellency, Mr. Kofi Annan, the “The Knight Commander of the Most Courteous Order of Lesotho” award. Thereafter, His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan will deliver a response. It is thereafter that His Majesty the King graciously invites all of us to enjoy the dinner. I shall make an announcement when Their Majesties and other Distinguished Guest are ready to take leave of us at which point I shall kindly ask us to sing the national Anthem. It is now my honour and privilege to humbly request Your Majesty, to approach the Podium, in order to deliver Your remarks. YOUR MAJESTY !!!
	SOURCE: CABINET OFFICE