ADDIS ABABA – The UNESCO awarded Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Prize for Peace, for his contribution for pursuit of peace, the Office of the Prime Minister announced yesterday.
The Award goes to individuals in recognition to their contribution to peace by solving international conflicts, by searching dialogue and negotiation in their conciliation role and by achieving ecumenical understanding for tolerance.
Audrey Azoulay, Director- General of UNESCO, on an official visit to Ethiopia on 2 and 3 May on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, will meet with the Prime Minister and convey her warm congratulations, Ethiopia News Agency (ENA) reported.
Since coming to office over a year ago, the premier’s administration resulted in the homecoming of exiled political leaders, including those who opted for putting arms to rest. Thousands of political prisoners has also been set free, not to mention the release of top leaders of oppositions, it was learnt.
In addition to unblocking hundreds of blogs, the media environment also gets relaxed. Abiy’s efforts also unified the split Ethiopian Orthodox Church Holy Synod, while contributing to unity among top leaders of the Muslim community.
It is also to be recalled that the premier worked hard to inspire peace in the Horn region, also by breaking the decades of no peace no war regime between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
The Félix Houphouët-Boigny Prize for Peace has awarded more than 20 world figures since 1991.
Nelson Mandela, Barrack Obama, Jimmy Carter, Yitzhak Rabin former Prime Minister of Israel, and Ex-president of Senegal Abdoulaye Wade were among the others who have received the prize, it added.
Herald May 3/2019
BY STAFF REPORTER
