Secretary-General Saddened by Death of Mikhail  Gorbachev, a ‘Towering’ Global Leader Whose Unparalleled Efforts Brought Peaceful End to Cold War

The following statement by UN Secretary-General António Guterres was issued today:

I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Mikhail Gorbachev, a one‑of‑a‑kind statesman who changed the course of history.  He did more than any other individual to bring about the peaceful end of the cold war.

On behalf of the United Nations, I extend my heartfelt condolences to Mikhail Gorbachev’s family and to the people and Government of the Russian Federation.

Receiving the 1990 Nobel Peace Prize, he observed that “peace is not unity in similarity, but unity in diversity”.  He put this vital insight into practice by pursuing the path of negotiation, reform, transparency and disarmament.

In his later years, Mikhail Gorbachev embraced a new challenge just as vital for the well-being of humankind:  creating a sustainable future by cultivating harmonious relationships between humans and the environment.  It was in this spirit that he founded Green Cross International.

The world has lost a towering global leader, committed multilateralist and tireless advocate for peace.