U.N., Kofi Annan receive Peace Prize
OSLO, Norway (CNN) -- The Nobel Peace Prize for 2001 has been awarded jointly to the United Nations and its Secretary-General, Kofi Annan.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee, based in Oslo, said the centenary award had been given to the U.N. and 63-year-old Annan for their work to build peace throughout the world.
Annan said the news was "wonderful" and a great recognition for the world body and its staff.
"At the same time it is a great responsibility at such difficult moment but reinforces us in pursuing the search for peace," he said.
The committee said Annan had brought "new life" to the U.N. and had fought for human rights and against AIDS and international terrorism.
With more than 50,000 employees around the world, a New York headquarters, half a dozen regional branches worldwide and scores of field offices around the world, the U.N. was founded in 1945. It now has 189 governments as members.
Annan, a native of Ghana, took office in 1997 and was easily elected to a second term in June, months before his first five-year term expired.
In a statement, committee chairman Gunnar Berge said: "For 100 years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to strengthen organised cooperation between states.
"Today the organisation is at the forefront of efforts to achieve peace and security in the world, and of the international mobilisation aimed at meeting the world's economic, social and environmental challenges.
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"Kofi Annan has devoted almost his entire working life to the U.N. As Secretary-General, he has been pre-eminent in bringing new life to the organisation.
"He has risen to such new challenges as HIV/AIDS and international terrorism, and brought about more efficient utilisation of the U.N.'s modest resources.
"Through this first Peace Prize to the U.N. 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."
It is the second time a U.N. secretary-general has won; Dag Hammarskjold was awarded the prize posthumously in 1961.
Seven previous Nobel Peace Prizes have been awarded to U.N. officials or organisations. The last award to a U.N., in 1988, went to U.N. peacekeeping forces, for "reducing tensions" and making "a decisive contribution toward the initiation of actual peace negotiations."
This year the U.N. war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia was also a contender.
The first Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in 1901 to Jean Henry Dunant, founder of the Swiss Red Cross.
Last year, South Korean President Kim Dae-jung won for his reconciliation efforts with North Korea.
This year, those nominated included the Chinese Falun Gong movement, the European Court of Human Rights, U.S. peace broker Richard Holbrooke, Cuban President Fidel Castro and the game of football.
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