Brosnan courts U.N. role

In this story: Messengers of Peace (appointed by the Secretary-General): Goodwill Ambassadors: RELATED STORIES, SITES

UNITED NATIONS -- Pierce Brosnan, the Irish born actor who plays James Bond, has visited U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to see what he could do for the world body.

Brosnan has indicated an interest in "getting involved" at the United Nations and was visiting Annan and other U.N. specialists on disarmament and peacekeeping, U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said.

Asked if he would give Brosnan a "license to kill" for peace as the fictitious British agent Bond had, Annan told reporters: "Definitely not."

But "if by that you mean the power to make sure there are no wars and to stop all those who are committing these wars," Annan said he needed such license himself.

"Celebrities can be very effective advocates, provided the issue is right," Annan said.

Brosnan, 47, could "use his voice to help us in some of the work we do, just like Michael Douglas, who has been very active in disarmament," Annan added.

Brosnan did not speak to reporters.

Goodwill Ambassadors have served U.N. bodies since UNICEF first assigned actor Danny Kaye was named in 1954.

Annan appointed the first U.N. Messengers of Peace. Among the top names:

Muhammad Ali, former heavyweight boxing champion (U.S.); Anna Cataldi, author and journalist (Italy); Michael Douglas, actor (U.S.); Enrico Macias, singer (France).

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): Danny Glover, actor (U.S.); Nadine Gordimer, Nobel laureate for literature (South Africa); “Ronaldo” Luis Nazario de Lima, football player (Brazil).

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). From Europe: Kattis Ahlstrom, journalist (Sweden); Nicolaas Biegman, former co-Chairman, Cairo Conference on Population and Development (Netherlands); Mary Banotti, Member of European Parliament (Ireland); Magenta Devine, radio and television personality (UK).

Geri Halliwell, singer (UK); Catarina Furtado, actress (Portugal); Hanne-Vibeke Holst, author and journalist (Denmark); Mikko Kuustonen, singer, songwriter (Finland); Goedele Liekens, media personality (Belgium); Bertrand Piccard, scientist-adventurer (Switzerland).

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Rest of world: Waris Dirie, fashion supermodel, activist (Somalia); Safia El-Emary, actress (Egypt); Catarina Furtado, actress (Portugal); Wendy Fitzwilliam, former Miss Universe (Trinidad and Tobago).

Lupita Jones, former Miss Universe (Mexico); Feryal Ali Gauhar, actress/film maker (Pakistan); Linda Gray, actress, environmental activist (U.S); Rosy Senanayake, actress, former Miss World (Sri Lanka).

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF): Harry Belafonte, singer, actor (U.S.); Johann Olav Koss, Olympic champion speed skater (Norway); Mia Farrow, actress (U.S.); Nana Mouskouri, singer (Greece); Susan Sarandon, actress (U.S.); Vendela Thommessen, model (Norway); Sir Peter Ustinov, actor (UK).

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): Djordje Balasevic, singer (Yugoslavia); Adel Imam, actor (Egypt); Arja Saijonmaa, singer (Finland).

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): Seamus Heaney, Nobel laureate for literature (Ireland); Marian Wright Edelman, activist for children’s rights (U.S.).

United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (UNODCCP):

Al Bano Carrisi, singer (Italy); Franz Klammer, Olympic champion skier (Austria); Tetsuya Komuro, musician (Japan); Letizia Moratti, television executive (Italy).

Reuters contributed to this report.

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