CONGRATULATIONS TO UN SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI  ANNAN AND THE WHOLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS FAMILY FOR HAVING  BEEN AWARDED TODAY THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 2001!

Vivat International joins the United Nations Family, its government members, its agencies, its staff members and all NGOs working in partnership with the UN in rejoicing for an unexpected but a pleasant and well deserved surprise.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee, awarded its Nobel Peace Prize, in its centenary year, not only to one person but to an international organization. They have rightly captured the worthiness that the person of Kofi Annan as Secretary-General represents is also reflected in the whole United Nations Organization.

The Nobel Committee’s citation states in part:

“Today the Organization is at the forefront of efforts to achieve peace and security in the world and of the international mobilization aimed at meeting the world’s economic, social and environmental challenges.”

“Through this first peace prize to the UN as such, the Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes in its centenary year to proclaim that the only negotiable route to global peace and cooperation goes by way of the United Nations.”

Vivat International, along with all of the United Nations Family, recognizes the singular worthiness of the United Nations as epitomized in the person of its present Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, the primary recipient of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. We acknowledge his constant efforts to bring about a peaceable world, a sustainable world, a world where genuine solidarity among nations, races, religions and cultures exist. We acknowledge his special gift as peacemaker as he constantly builds bridges of mutual understanding, reconciliation and cooperation. We acknowledge his effective leadership in his personal example of integrity, his gift of friendship and his charism of inspiring others to embrace the original vision and mission of the United Nations. We acknowledge that Kofi Annan has incarnated in his very person the Spirit’s gift of PEACE for our world TODAY.

As we relish the joy of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize, we recall with gratitude all those who have gone ahead of Kofi Annan, all those who have given their commitment in one way or another, at one time or another through the past 56 years of existence of the United Nations.

We deeply wonder that this Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded at a time of history of humankind experiencing the fatal consequences of terrorism and its multifaceted threats to world peace. To Secretary General Kofi Annan and to the whole United Nations Family, may the prize be a BEACON of renewed VIGOR to serve PEACE at all costs.

Vivat International, New York

Dated: 10/12/01