Annan voices sadness at death of veteran Yemeni ambassador

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today paid tribute to Yemen's former Permanent Representative to the United Nations Abdullah Saleh Al-Ashtal, who served in his post for almost 30 years.

"As one of Yemen's most articulate diplomats and a widely popular delegate to the United Nations, he was a leading advocate of economic and social development," Mr. Annan said in a statement issued by his spokesman voicing sadness at the death of a man who was "deeply committed to the work and ideals of the UN."

Ambassador Al-Ashtal presented his credentials on 29 May 1973, as Permanent Representative of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, and continued to represent a united Yemen from 1990 until July 2002.