Annan pays tribute to memory of pioneer UN staffer Oscar Schachter

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today expressed sadness over the death of legal scholar and pioneer UN staff member Oscar Schachter, hailing his contributions to the development of international law.

Mr. Schachter died on Friday at the age of 88.

"Professor Schachter did more than any other official in the United Nations to help shape the rule of law and was the architect of the legal framework which has guided United Nations peacekeeping for more than 50 years," Mr. Annan said through his spokesman.

Mr. Schachter joined the UN in 1946, shortly after its founding. He was Director of the General Legal Division from 1953 to 1966, before serving as Deputy Executive Director of the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) from 1966 until 1975.

That Institute, founded in 1965, trains personnel to take assignments within the UN system, or to work in their national governments on UN-related work.

"The Secretary-General gives thanks for the life of this eminent jurist, scholar and international civil servant," spokesman Fred Eckhard said.

As a scholar, Mr. Schachter graduated first in his class from Columbia Law School in 1939, having collected many honours. After leaving the UN, he joined the law school faculty as Hamilton Fish Professor of International Law and Diplomacy in 1975 and became Emeritus in 1985. He received the school's medal of excellence in 1991 and an honorary doctorate in 2000.

He was a co-editor-in-chief of the American Journal of International Law, the official publication of the American Society of International Law, of which he was an active member for some 60 years. He received a medal and a certificate of merit from the Society for outstanding scholarship in international law.