Paris, November 17 {No.2000-121}- UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura presented Pope Shenouda III, the head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, with the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence in a ceremony at Organization Headquarters in the evening of November 16, International Day for Tolerance.

As she opened the ceremony, the President of the international jury of the Prize, philosophy professor Tanella Boni of the University of Abidjan-Cocody (Côte d'Ivoire), congratulated the laureate, and the winners of special and honourable mentions, saying that "their exemplary work in favour of tolerance and non-violence illustrates admirably, through action, the ideals UNESCO has been advocating since its creation." Having highlighted the importance of tolerance for peace and the fact that this year has been proclaimed International Year for the Culture of Peace by the United Nations, Ms Boni declared: "The year to come will be that of dialogue between civilisations. This dialogue will not be possible without active tolerance and non-violence."

Mr Matsuura for his part praised Pope Shenouda's for promoting exchange and understanding between Christianity and Islam in today's Middle East: "If modern Egypt has been largely spared the horrors of communal violence, this has been due in great part to the foresight, wisdom, and spirit of tolerance of religious leaders of the calibre of Pope Shenouda the Third." The Director-General also praised Pope Shenouda's "deep concern to pursue dialogue with all the great religious faiths" and his "major role in forging ecumenical links with all other members of the Christian family throughout the planet."

Upon receiving the US$ 40,000 Prize dedicated to advancing the spirit of tolerance in the arts, education, culture, science and communication, Pope Shenouda paid tribute to UNESCO for its "essential role in all areas of the world" and to Mahatma Gandhi whose legacy of non-violence is commemorated by the prize.

Referring to the Scriptures, Pope Shenouda declared: "There is a way you can overcome your enemy, it is by changing your enemy into a friend, we need to win friends everywhere. [...] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Gentleness and meekness are needed to have peace."

Speaking about his close relations with Muslim and Arab leaders in Egypt and throughout the region, Pope Shenouda said that such relationships provided an example in showing that Christians and Muslims can love each other and that "we can build our country together".

Finally, Pope Shenouda, who also bears the title of Pope of Alexandria, thanked UNESCO for its contribution to the reconstruction of the library of Alexandria.

The ceremony proceeded with the presentation by the Director-General of two Honourable Mentions: One was attributed to Indonesian human rights activist Munir, founder of the Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence (KONTRAS) which co-ordinates a network of non-governmental organisations and associations concerned with state-organised violence and local conflicts. Munir is also a member of Simpati, an organisation which fights discrimination against the Chinese community of Indonesia. The other Honourable Mention was given to former Sierra Leone Education Secretary Christiana Ayoka Mary Thorpe, founder of the Sierra Leone chapter of the non-governmental organisation Forum for African Women Educationalists. Her work focuses on meeting the needs of young women and girls traumatised by war and on the fight against the exclusion of pregnant girls and girl mothers.

Three Special Mentions were presented: One was given to Iranian pro-reform daily newspaper Salaam for providing an open forum for debate, courageously promoting the democratic rule of law, freedom of the press, rights for women, and respect for deprived minorities like Iran's Afghan refugee community. Mr Matsuura wished the paper "every success" and said he hoped its recent suspension will prove to be only temporary.

Intergovernmental radio and television broadcaster Mir [peace in Russian] has also been given a Special Mention for its "balanced reporting" and for "stressing ethnic understanding, harmony, tolerance and respect", underscoring the key educational role of the media in promoting a culture of non-violence. Created in 1992, Mir today covers ten former Soviet Republics.

U.S. non-governmental organisation, Seeds of Peace, founded by former journalist John Wallach, was also given a Special Mention for its work to promote peace between Arabs and Israelis and in other conflict areas, notably through the holding of summer camps for teenagers, laying the foundations for tolerance and understanding.

Finally, the sponsor of the Prize which was created by UNESCO in 1995 and which is awarded every two year, Indian artist, writer and diplomat Madanjeet Singh - a former activist in Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent "Quit India" movement against British colonial rule - spoke of the importance and pertinence of the ideals shared by Gandhi and the founders of UNESCO. Quoting former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, he described UNESCO as "the conscience of the world."

The ceremony was held in the presence of the Chairperson of UNESCO's Executive Board, Sonia Mendieta de Badaroux, and was concluded by a concert of classical Indian music.

World Culture Report 2000. UNESCO Publishing, 7 place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris 07 SP France. 470pp. Price 260FrF, 39.64 euros.

A media summary of the report is available on the Internet: www.unesco.org/WCR2000

****