Kofi Annan temporarily withdraws from The Elders following his appointment as Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on the Syrian crisis
<h3 class="post-title subpt">In respect of the requirement that Elders are free to speak and act independently, and to allow him to devote his full energies to his critical new assignment, Kofi Annan has decided to recuse himself as a member of The Elders.</h3><div class="quoteblock"><div class="quotetext"></div></div><p>Former UN Secretary-General and member of The Elders, Mr Kofi Annan, was appointed Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on the Syrian crisis on 23 February 2012.</p>
<p>Consequently, he has decided to recuse himself as a member of The Elders with immediate effect, until such time when he is in a position to re-engage.</p>
<p>This decision will enable Mr Annan to devote his full energies and attention to his complex and critical new assignment over the coming months. It also respects the requirement that Elders are able to speak and act independently, and not be bound by any official position.</p>
<p>The Elders accept Kofi Annan’s decision and wish him every success in carrying out the important mandate with which he is entrusted.</p>
