Annan to deliver major address

The Crystal Tiger award selection committee announced Wednesday that United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan is this year's recipient of the award. He will deliver a policy address in Richardson Auditorium on Nov. 28.

"He has had fought tirelessly to end poverty and inequality, to improve education, reduce HIV/AIDS, safeguard the environment and protect people from conflict and violence," Cindy Chou '07, student coordinator of the Crystal Tiger award selection committee, said in an email.

Annan is expected to be presented with the award, which recognizes "an individual who has had a transformative impact on [students'] lives," after he delivers a speech on global nuclear proliferation later this month.

Annan's remarks come on the eve of his departure as secretary-general on Dec. 31. The University has branded his talk a "major policy address." It is one of a series he will deliver in the coming months on major themes of his term as secretary-general.

"The specific purpose of this one is to highlight the dangers of global nuclear proliferation and the urgency of decisive moves towards general nuclear disarmament," Edward Mortimer, the secretary-general's communications director, said in an email.

"The Woodrow Wilson School was felt to be a particularly suitable venue because President Wilson was a great pioneer of multilateralism and advocate of world peace, who argued, among other things, for agreed international limits on deadly weapons," Mortimer added.

Wilson School Dean Anne-Marie Slaughter '80 said in a statement that she was "honored that Kofi Annan will deliver such an important speech here at Princeton as he nears the end of his term as secretary-general."

"He has demonstrated principled and determined leadership in the face of the world's most serious crises and ongoing challenges," Slaughter added.

Annan is the third recipient of the Crystal Tiger. Previous recipients were former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in 2004 and Microsoft chairman Bill Gates in 2005.

Asked about Annan's views on accepting an award also given to Powell — who made the case before the United Nations for the U.S. invasion of Iraq that Annan opposed — the secretary-general's spokesman said Annan was not concerned.

"The secretary-general worked closely with Colin Powell when he was secretary of state, and has great respect for him," Mortimer said.

This will not be Annan's first time being honored at Princeton.

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He received an honorary degree in 1999, and was praised by then-University president Harold Shapiro GS '64 for being "in the service of all nations."

Student leaders yesterday also offered praise for Annan.

"While his term as Secretary General has not been a completely smooth one, I believe that he has handled himself well as the leader of the most important international organization in the world," International Relations Council officer Kevin Huang '09 said in an email.

College Republicans president Alexander Maugeri '07 recalled Annan's "many distinguished achievements," such as, "raising global attention towards the crisis in Darfur." Maugeri is an associate editor at The Daily Princetonian.

Following Annan's address, a reception will be held for a select number of students to meet the secretary-general personally.

Tickets to the address and reception will be available through the online student lottery beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 10, and closing at noon Monday, Nov. 13. Winners will be notified Tuesday, Nov. 14. Students selected through the lottery will receive tickets for either the address or the reception.

Princetonian contributor Ilya Blanter contributed reporting to this article.