World peace Diplomat Richard Holbrooke Dies

World leaders vocalize their grief over the diplomat who helped end the Bosnian war, reported dead following heart surgery on Monday.

Richard Holbrooke, aged 69, pioneered numerous peace measures during his career and was probably best known for his 1995 peace deal which helped end the violent conflicts leading to the break-up of former Yugoslavia.

Holbrooke was assigned as the U.S. special representative by Barack Obama after the President took office in 2008, widely considered to be one of the most difficult diplomatic positions since it involved working with both Afghanistan and Pakistan. His tough stance which served him well during his negotiations in the Balkans led to friction between Holbrooke and Afghan President Hamid Karzai on numerous occasions, but Karzai’s office was one of the first to issue a commendation of his services following his death.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari also issued a positive statement despite a fraught relationship in the past, calling the diplomat an "extremely hard-working man" and adding that he "get[s] things done which would otherwise take weeks to get through."

Holbrooke took on multiple roles during his career including working as a journalist and investment banker, but his long-standing diplomacy record extended from the Vietnam War to the recent Middle East crises. As one of the world’s most prominent diplomatic aides, he was noted for his relentless approach to peace negotiations.

The Washington Post reported that among Holbrooke’s final comments before undergoing surgery was “You’ve got to stop this war in Afghanistan” to his Pakistani surgeon. Holbrooke’s family had told The Washington Post that he had the troubled region on his mind even as he was being sedated and prepared for surgery, and a senior administration official confirmed that this was one of his last remarks.

Back to the Tripbase News Homepage