UNESCO Cities for Peace

On Monday, March 18^th , the 2000 – 2001 UNESCO Cities for Peace Prize has been presented to Vilnius during an official ceremony in Marrakech, Morocco, on the occasion of the 107^th Inter-Parliamentary Conference. The Prize consisted of a certificate and an award of US$20,000 for each laureate city.

Vilnius has been one of the five prize win- ning cities, one in each of the five world regions that UNESCO has delimited for the purpose of carrying out its regional activities. As the City for Peace, Vilnius has been nominated for the region of Europe and North America. The other winners are: for Africa, Lubumbashi (Democratic Republic of the Congo), for the Arab States, Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt), for Asia and Pacific, Bukhara (Uzbekistan), for Latin America and the Caribbean, Cotacachi (Ecuador).

The Jury particularly appreciated the projects singled out, which, taking into account such varied factors as town planning, environment, civic education, the establishment of cultural facilities and the strengthening of social links, could serve as models. They also wished to honour cities emerging from a long and difficult period that have demonstrated their capacity to rise to new situations.

The number of competing projects – 325 for 76 cities – attested to the popularity of this Prize, launched at the HABITAT II Conference in 1996. In the region of Europe and North America 149 project for 21 city have been competing.

Presenting the nomination of Vilnius to the UNESCO competition, such the activities as social service development, healthiness, civic initiatives, ecology and protection of cultural heritage were emphasised. Lithuanian capital has also accented its action against exclusion and in support of the dialogue between communities.