RIYADH — The European Union Delegation in Riyadh held a reception party on Monday to celebrate the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to the EU. The winner was announced by the prize's Norwegian committee last October to honor Europe's effort in maintaining decades of peace and democracy after the two world wars. In addition to humanitarian efforts and peace movements, the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded for work in a wide range of fields including advocacy of human rights, mediation of international conflicts and arms control. Addressing the audience, Head of the EU Delegation Ambassador Adam Kulach said: “We as Europeans are very proud of winning this prize and Europe has really merited it because it has not only preserved peace but also performed a miracle by making former enemies friends and providing assistance in settling different problems on the European continent, proving that since the founding of the union things that seemed impossible, unthinkable, and undoable can be achieved. This is what the EU is about. “The EU is also about human rights and today (Monday) is the international day of human rights. “In this context, I presented in Kuwait the Chaillot Prize for social work to Sheikha Bebi Bint Nasir, who created an association to do a great job of helping domestic foreign workers there. “Chaillot is the name of a palace in Paris where the 10th of December every year is declared as universal day.” Norwegian Ambassador to the Kingdom Carl Schi?tz Wibye said: “The Nobel Peace Prize is one of five original Nobel prizes founded in 1901 and they are awarded by a committee of five people who are chosen by the Norwegian Storting (Parliament of Norway), Oslo, Norway. “The EU was awarded the prize for its efforts in promoting peace and human rights in Europe in the last 60 years. “Also, the union has played key role in democracy building, particularly in central and eastern Europe.” The function, which took place at the EU headquarters, was attended by ambassadors and diplomats of the EU and other countries including France's Bertrand Besancenot, Italy's Valentino Simonetti and Mexico's Arturo Trejo.
