From: Mohammad Bari Subject: World leaders pay tributes to Bangabandhu, Sheikh Hasina Date: Sunday, September 26, 1999 10:43 AM [The Financial Express, Sep 26, 1999] World leaders pay tributes to Bangabandhu, Sheikh Hasina Unesco Auditorium, the venue of distribution ceremony of Felix Houphouet peace prize in Paris, was vibrated and echoed with complements made by renowned statesmen and noted personalities, who in unequivocal terms lauded the people of Bangladesh, charismatic personality of the Bangabandhu and the dynamic leadership of Sheikh Hasina. The venue was equally vibrated with thunderous cheers and applause from a multi-national and colourful audience who assembled there to witness the Unesco peace prize awarding ceremony, the last such one oF the present century as they greeted Bangladesh prime minister for winning the peace award, according to a message received in city from Paris Saturday, reports BSS. All the speakers recalled with great admiration the historic War of Liberation of Bangladesh and expressed deep gratitude to the philosophy and mission of its founder father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who they said made his highest sacrifice for democracy and peace and well-being of the mankind. "You have come of a family that awarded Bangladesh with one of the greatest and most respected leaders, your father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, whom your people rightly consider the liberator of Bangladesh", said Senegalese President Abdou Diouf referring to Sheikh Hasina while addressing the function. Referring to the signing of peace accord on Chittagong Hill Tracts, the Senegal President said, "You have rightly considered that internal peace is a pre-condition to progress in a democracy". Ivory Coast President Henri Konan Bedie told Sheikh Hasina, "You have appreciated fully the gravity of the problem and demonstrated a very high level of wisdom and political sagacity. By this extremely courageous act, which showed respect for the legitimate aspiration of the concerned people, you put an end to the fratricidal conflict that lasted for over two decades and by doing so you have eminently deserved the peace prize, he said. The complement of former US Secretary of State and President of the Jury Award of the 1998 Peace Prize Henry A Kissinger, a much-talked person for his controversial comment on Bangladesh, when he paid rich tributes to the leadership and statesmanship of the country's founding father. Kissinger said that he knew the Prime Minister's family for many decades. During the turmoil of mass upsurge in the then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) the Pakistani military rulers made prediction to US State Department that election would bring no solution in that part of Pakistan as there would be at least 20 to 25 parties who would bag some seat and no leader could be emerged out of the polls, Kissinger said and added jokingly, "the prediction of Pakistani administration came true as Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won 167 seats out of 169 and emerged not as a leader but founder of new country". It evoked laughter around the venue. Kissinger, while paying extraordinary tributes to the leadership of Sheikh Hasina said, "You made tremendous contribution to overcome a ethnic conflict and reconciled the unity of the nation and strengthened human rights of its people. "We are proud of to be able to extend this prize to you", he said. The principal host of the function Unesco Director General, Federico Mayor in his complementary speech said, "Today we are happy to be able to award the Unesco Peace Prize, the last of this century to two personalities from two sides of the globe who are working for a peaceful world, tolerant society and flourishing democratic values".