Tel Aviv, Israel, December 20, 2005

The following reached me December 20, 2005 from the UN Department of Public Information

as a press release but it leaves me perplexed - why did the SG get that prize -

my questions are about the organization that did this presentation and its real reasons.

It is nevertheless news.

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ANNAN AWARDED ENVIRONMENTAL PRIZE FOR EFFORTS IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
New York, Dec 19 2005 3:00PM
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan was unanimously declared today the
unanimous winner of the 2005 Prize for Global Leadership and the Environment
conferred by the Zayed Prize International Jury, for his efforts on the
environment and sustainable development.

“One person has done more than most to catalyze political and public opinion to
an understanding that the environment is a fundamental pillar of sustainable
development. That person is Mr. Kofi Annan,” the jury said in its citation,
according to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

The jury noted, in particular, Mr. Annan’s leadership at environmental
conferences and that environmental themes were featured in the various reports
he requested in the run up to the 2005 World Summit in New York including “A
More Secure World: Our Shared Responsibility” and “In Larger Freedom”.

The Zayed International Prize for the Environment was established by Sheikh
Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and United Arab Emirates
Minister of Defense, to acknowledge the environmental commitment of the late
Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

It is worth $ 1 million and is considered among the most prestigious
environment-related awards in the world.

Previous Global Leadership winners have been former United States President
Jimmy Carter and the British Broadcasting Corporation for their global media
commitment to environment and sustainable development issues.

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For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news