United Nations

NEW YORK, 13 October (UN Headquarters) -- Following is the text of a statement made on the occasion of the announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize, issued today by the Office of the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General warmly welcomes the decision by the Norwegian Nobel Committee to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2000 to President Kim Dae-jung for his work for democracy and human rights in the Republic of Korea and in East Asia, in general, and for peace and reconciliation with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in particular.

President Kim Dae-jung has made a unique and historic contribution to the cause of peace in the Korean Peninsula.  The historic summit between him and the leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Kim Jong II, that took place last June in Pyongyang, as well as the ensuing commitment by both leaders to faithfully implement the Joint Declaration they signed, is the best testament to an encouraging prospect of bright future in the Peninsula.  The Secretary-General will continue doing everything possible to assist the peace efforts and reconciliation in the Korean Peninsula.