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1999 - Opening address by Mr Alioune Traoré

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

As Executive Secretary of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize, I have the honour of giving you some information on the organization of the ceremony that brings us together here at the invitation of the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura.

During this ceremony, the 1999 Prize will be presented to the Community of Sant'Egidio, represented by its President, Professor Andrea Riccardi.

On this solemn occasion, it is right to recall that the Community of Sant'Egidio has, since its establishment, given support to the most deprived. It has made a most significant contribution to the quest for peace and the resolution of conflict throughout the world. The well-deserved tribute that it is receiving today comes from all the men and women who, like the Community, are convinced that the future of humanity lies in peace and in human fellowship.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my pleasure to draw your attention to the presence, on this platform, as the moral Authorities of the Prize, of two eminent figures who were personally entrusted by President Félix Houphouët-Boigny with the task of ensuring the protection, impact and continuation of the Prize. I refer to President Abdou Diouf, the Patron of the Prize, and President Henri Konan Bédié, its Sponsor.

I am happy to express to them once again my profound gratitude for what they have done over the past ten years, together with Dr Henry Kissinger, to promote and to ensure the continuation of this Prize which bears the name of one of the greatest figures in African history, the Wise Man of Yamoussoukro. The Prize is considered today to be part of the common heritage of the whole African continent.

Thanks to their support, this Prize has become a focus for encounters and dialogue and a source of pride for Africans. Resolutions in favour of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize have been adopted by the Organization of African Unity, the Franco-African Summit and the United Nations General Assembly.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

May I now turn to the Representatives of Heads of State and Government and the distinguished guests of the Director-General of UNESCO and Sant'Egidio, who are seated on the platform.

These are:

• Mr Louis Michel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium;

• Mr Paul David N'Zi, personal Representative of the President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, Mr Laurent Gbagbo; and Mr Abou Drahamane Sangaré, Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Côte d'Ivoire, who will address this assembly on behalf of the President of Côte d'Ivoire;

• Ms Lidia Brito, Minister of Higher Education, personal Representative of H.E. Mr Joaquim Chissano, President of the Republic of Mozambique;

• Mr Jacques Delors, former President of the European Commission;

• Mr Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Secretary-General of the International Organization of the Francophonie.

I also have the honour of informing you of the presence in the hall of Mr Frédéric Clavier, personal Representative of the President of the French Republic, Mr Jacques Chirac.

In addition, Mr Mário Soares, member of the Jury and former President of the Portuguese Republic, has sent us a message of congratulations for the Community of Sant'Egidio.

Lastly, as Dr Henry Kissinger is absent for reasons beyond his control, the Vice-President of the Jury, Mr Jean Foyer, former Minister of Justice under General de Gaulle, together with the Director-General of UNESCO, will present the Prize to Professor Andrea Riccardi.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

President Abdou Diouf, the high moral Authority of the Prize, will not speak during this ceremony but has instructed me, as Executive Secretary, to express to Dr Henry Kissinger and to the Jury his profound gratitude for the international influence with which they have endowed the Prize.

He expresses his warmest thanks to President Henri Konan Bédié for the fraternal support that he gives to him in his task as Sponsor of the Prize.

He has also instructed me to pay a most sincere tribute to Mr Koïchiro Matsuura for his precious support for the Prize since his magnificent election to the post of Director-General of UNESCO.

President Abdou Diouf adds that, thanks to the great benevolence of the Director-General, the Jury of the Prize deliberates in complete independence in conditions which redound to the honour of UNESCO and are a testimony to Mr Matsuura's sincere attachment to the African continent.

Lastly, he extends a respectful greeting to all the distinguished people who have come to honour this ceremony with their presence.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I cannot conclude this introduction to the ceremony without thinking, with emotion, of President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who made dialogue, reconciliation, pardon and human fellowship the main thrusts of his struggle for the peace and dignity of Africa.

May this Prize, under the vigilant and benevolent authority of the Director-General of UNESCO, contribute to that ideal of peace!

Thank you.

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