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OAS SECRETARY GENERAL PRAISES DECISION TO AWARD
THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE TO PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER

  October 11, 2002

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), César Gaviria, issued the following statement today lauding the decision to award the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize to former U.S. President Jimmy Carter:

“President Carter’s long and distinguished career as a great force for peace, as a statesman, and as a consistent voice for human rights and democracy, have been an unflagging example to us all. The continuing legacy of President Carter and the Carter Center in Atlanta champions negotiated and mediated solutions to challenging and complex international problems, a value shared by our organization.

“His deft touch has been felt in as diverse arenas as the Middle East conflict, social development, electoral democracy and river blindness in Africa. He single-handedly introduced the protection of human rights into what is today the accepted foreign policy vernacular.

“Currently, the OAS has the honor of working shoulder to shoulder with President Carter, as well as the United Nations Development Programme, in helping to resolve differences between the government and opposition in the complicated political situation in Venezuela.

“The Organization of American States salutes President Carter as he joins a long list of peacemakers recognized by the Nobel committee and the international community.”

Reference: E-200/02