NOBEL PEACE PRIZES FOR 2001, 1988 TO BE USED FOR MEMORIAL FUND, MEMORIAL AT UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS

NOBEL PEACE PRIZES FOR 2001, 1988 TO BE USED FOR MEMORIAL FUND,

MEMORIAL AT UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan:

You will recall that in 2001, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Secretary-General and the United Nations.  The amount of the Prize totalled

1 million US dollars and was awarded in equal shares to the Secretary-General and the United Nations as such.

The Secretary-General has proposed to use the full amount of the prize money as a start-up for the establishment of a memorial fund, which would provide financial assistance for the education of children of United Nations civilian personnel who have lost their lives in the service of peace.  The Fund would be a way of ensuring both a living memorial to staff who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and a practical way of helping families left behind.

Today, the General Assembly agreed to the Secretary-General's proposal, clearing the way for the Fund to benefit from the full amount of the 2001 Nobel Prize.

Today is the first observance of the annual International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.  We therefore take this opportunity to make an announcement about the use of the 1988 Nobel Peace Prize, awarded to the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces.  The funds of that award will be used for a memorial dedicated to those who gave their lives for peace in the service of the United Nations in the field.  Work has now begun on the construction of the memorial, which will be located in the North Garden of the United Nations Headquarters and unveiled in September of this year.

The memorial is designed by Arquitectonica, the prestigious architectural firm, whose services were provided to the United Nations pro bono.

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