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Madeleine Albright’s Passing Is a Loss for the Diplomatic World, a Loss for the Country

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Washington, D.C. (March 23, 2022) — Peter Yeo, Senior Vice President of the UN Foundation and President of the Better World Campaign, released the following statement on the death of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright:

“The world lost an irreplaceable leader today. As the first female Secretary of State, Secretary Albright was not only a trailblazer, she was a fierce patriot, a skilled diplomat, and someone whom I am proud to say I once called my boss.

“Prior to her service as Secretary, Albright served as the twentieth UN Ambassador to the United Nations from 1993 to 1997, developing a world view she called, ‘assertive multilateralism.’ While Albright understood the limitations of the UN, she famously said, ‘If the UN didn’t exist, we would have to invent it.’

“Secretary Albright’s strong leadership was always informed by her love of her adopted country and by the natural humanitarian instincts at her core. She had an exceptional ability to explain complex foreign policy subjects to a broad American audience and to advance the U.S. diplomatic agenda with policymakers on Capitol Hill.

“As Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs, I was fortunate to see Secretary Albright’s kindness and accessibility up close. She treated staff as respectfully as she might treat a member of the Cabinet or a foreign leader and was always eager to hear different perspectives.

Secretary Albright’s legacy will live on, in the ideals she championed and in the many lives she touched.”

About the Better World Campaign

The Better World Campaign, an initiative of the Better World Fund, works to strengthen the relationship between the United States and the United Nations. It encourages U.S. leadership to enhance the UN’s ability to carry out its invaluable international work on behalf of peace, progress, freedom, and justice. For more information, visit www.betterworldcampaign.org.

Media Contact:

info_bwc@unfoundation.org