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Annan pays tribute to Reverend Sullivan, apartheid foe and Africa advocate

Annan pays tribute to Reverend Sullivan, apartheid foe and Africa advocate

Expressing "great sadness" at the death of the Reverend Leon Sullivan, Secretary-General Kofi Annan today said that the legacy of this renowned foe of apartheid and champion of African development demonstrated "how much one individual can do to change lives and societies for the better."

Mr. Annan said in a statement that the Reverend -- who died yesterday at the age of 78 -- was "respected throughout the world for the bold and innovative role he played in the global campaign to dismantle the system of apartheid in South Africa."

The Reverend had since gone on to show remarkable commitment to improving education, fighting AIDS and building up civil society in Africa, Mr. Annan said.

In 1977, Reverend Sullivan, a United States citizen, created the landmark seven "Sullivan Principles," which outlined guidelines for corporations and governments interested in doing business with South Africa's racially divided system, and helped to end apartheid. More recently, the Reverend served as chairman for the 6th African-African American Summit, which was held in Ghana in 1999.