Annan Mourns Loss Of Veteran Journalist Alistair Cooke
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today paid tribute to the New York-based British journalist Alistair Cooke,
presenter of the famous "Letter from America" radio segment, who has died.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Annan said Mr. Cooke had a special place in the history of the UN - in
1945 he covered the world body's founding conference in San Francisco for what was then known as the Manchester
Guardian.
>From 1961 to 1967 Mr. Cooke produced and presented "International Zone," a programme on world affairs produced by
the UN's Department of Public Information and released around the globe.
The journalist was best known for his "Letter from America," a radio segment broadcast weekly by the British
Broadcasting Corp. (BBC), with only an occasional break, since 1946. He was also a television presenter.
Offering his condolences to Mr. Cooke's family "and all others touched by this loss," Mr. Annan commended the
journalist's "lifelong efforts to increase mutual understanding between peoples."