OSLO, Norway, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- The centennial Nobel Peace Prize was awarded Friday to the United Nations and its Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee cited the United Nations for its efforts to achieve peace and security in the world. Annan was applauded for "bringing new life to the organization."
"He has risen to such new challenges as HIV/Aids and international terrorism, and brought about more efficient utilization of the U.N.'s modest resources," the committee said of Annan.
Annan and the U.N. will share the $943,000 award in equal parts.
Born in 1938 in Ghana, Annan became U.N. secretary-general in 1997. He was unanimously re-elected to a second five-year term by the 189 U.N. member states in June.
The announcement comes one month after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Last year, South Korean President Kim Dae-jung won for his reconciliation efforts with North Korea.
