Nobel Peace Prize 2016 named Colombian President Santos

(Baonghean.vn) - Candidates gathered to witness this year's Nobel Prize award ceremony in the Norwegian capital Oslo. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos is the recipient of the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.

Colombian President Santos at the ceremony. Photo: Getty.

Juan Manuel Santos was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10 at Oslo City Hall. The ceremony, which was broadcast live on YouTube, was attended by the royal family, members of the Norwegian government, representatives of families who were victims of the conflict between the Colombian government and members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and former FARC prisoners.

The Nobel Peace Prize includes a gold medal, a diploma and a check for 8 million Swedish kronor ($871,000). Santos has promised to use the money for war victims.

Santos' award was given in recognition of his contribution to reaching a peace agreement between the FARC and the government, ending the 50-year conflict.

Nobel Peace Prize certificate awarded to President Santos. Photo: Twitter.

Speaking to AFP ahead of the ceremony, Santos said he was unsure whether he could repeat his success with Colombia’s second-largest rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN). “I cannot guarantee that we will finish before the end of our mandate. I will do my best, but setting a time frame is always counterproductive in these kinds of negotiations,” he said.

On the same day, another ceremony was also held in the Swedish capital Stockholm to honor prize winners in the fields of science, economics and literature.

Thu Giang

(According to AFP, AP)