¡¡¡¡ADDIS ABABA, July 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has won the top honor prize of the World Peace Council for his contributions for global peace.

¡¡¡¡The council unanimously endorsed Meles as winner of the 2002 top honor prize for his contributions to bringing about peace in Africa in general and Ethiopia in particular, the Information Ministry said here Monday.

¡¡¡¡The council is awarding Meles for his efforts in the peaceful resolution of the Ethio-Eritrea border dispute, for his commendable work in revitalizing the process of national reconciliation in war-torn Somalia under the auspices of the Organization of African Unity.

¡¡¡¡The council also paid tribute to his activities in resolving conflicts in the Sudan and the Great Lakes region under the auspices of the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development.

¡¡¡¡The award ceremony will be held in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia Tuesday with participation of delegates coming from Israel, the Philippines, Egypt, the Republic of Korea and Canada.

¡¡¡¡The idea of the World Peace Council was initiated in the 1960s during the presidency of John F. Kennedy of the United States.

¡¡¡¡Former US president Ronald Regan, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and former Israeli prime minister Ishak Rabin were the recipients of the award. Enditem

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