United Nations
Sir Brian Urquhart, a foundational leader of the United Nations who played a central role in developing the U.N. peacekeeping operations, the world body’s flagship activity, has died, aged 101. Expressing his sadness over Urquhart’s death, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres led the tributes to the “legendary long-time United Nations official”, saying that his “imprint on the United Nations was as profound as that of anyone in the Organization’s history”.
Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Munir Akram joined the tributes, calling him “one of the strongest advocates” of UN principles and purposes, a dedicated international civil servant, adding, “his example should be the template for the revival of positive multilateralism.”
Urquhart, a British national, was present at the birth of the UN in 1945 and was witness to many of the Organization’s – and the world’s – most historic 20th Century moments. Throughout his four decades of service to the UN, starting as one of its very first staff members and ending as an Under-Secretary-General for Special Political Affairs, he also helped shape history himself.
As Under-Secretary-General — he retired from service in 1986 — Urquhart’s main functions were the direction of peacekeeping forces in the Middle East and Cyprus, and negotiations in these two areas; amongst others, his contributions also included work on the negotiations relating to a Namibia peace settlement, negotiations in Kashmir, Lebanon and work on peaceful uses for nuclear energy.—APP
