MEDITERRANEAN AWARD FOR MEDIA
IGOR MAN
Journalist, ITALY

During the solemn "rentrée" of the United States of the World, a ceremony was held to present the "Mediterranean Information Award" to journalist Igor Man, one of the most important experts on the Arab world. On this occasion, the decree of appointment as "Ambassador of the United States of the World" was handed over.

Awarding Ceremony
Marseille, 5 July 2000

MEDITERRANEAN AWARD FOR PEACE
to the memory of H.M. HASSAN II
King of MOROCCO

Morocco, though having most of its coasts on the Atlantic, is truly Mediterranean. Not only because the Moroccan coast facing the Mediterranean extends from Tangier to Oujda, but also because Moroccan culture is founded on that humanism which has made man the measure of the world: a universal humanism, as emphasized by many thinkers and artists. From the high of Tangier a blue line separates the waters of the Ocean from those of the Mediterranean; and the latter seem to venture to the Atlantic in search of other continents to be fecundated by Mediterranean culture and ancient traditions. This line of demarcation – in the Koran Marajou AI Bahrein – is the strong representation of the attitude of Mediterranean genius to transmit our ancient immortal culture to the whole world: an attitude that H.M. Hassan II has constantly nourished, since His accession to the throne, continuing the action for national unity started by His father Mohammed V. His great merit was to support the democratization process towards which he wisely oriented His Country: this achievement will remain in history the main pillar in His political career. By accepting this challenge, He belied all those who argued that there was an absolute structural incompatibility between Islam and Democracy. By instituting for the first time in the Arab world and on the Southern shore of the Mediterranean the system of alternating democracy, H.M. Hassan II offered an example of pride and hope not only to the Moroccan people but also to all Arab and Muslim peoples. “Your Majesty, in a moment when the highest minds of the Mediterranean give You this Award, we join them, being sure that this high acknowledgement is not only conferred on the most important representative of Maghreb world but also on all Maghreb peoples who, thanks to Your action, may hope in a future founded on peace and on the respect of different identitie".

Awarding Ceremony
Naples, 5 January 2000

MEDITERRANEAN AWARD FOR CULTURE
REPUBLIC OF MALTA
MALTA

The Republic of Malta is a unique example in the Mediterranean. History and culture of Maltese islands are mingled with those of Europe and of the Mediterranean across the centuries, since the prehistoric period, when the archipelago was part of a vast territory extending from Northern Africa to Europe. Megalithic monuments, erected at Xaghra, are considered the most ancient in the world: Ggantilia temples, built around 300 B.C., before Egyptian pyramids. Later on Malta was ruled by various peoples among which Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs: a mingling of knowledge, religions, traditions and destinies which make this island in the middle of the Mediterranean a priceless cultural heritage. However, those who left a decisive mark were the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, by chasing off the Turks of Solyman the Magnificent and turning the island into a true cultural deposit. Today the Republic of Malta has undertaken the journey towards Europe. Prof. Guido de Marco is one of the authors of this process. Foreign Minister for a long period and today President of the Republic, he has been able to embody the three Mediterranean “Forces”, showing in his action the experience of a political man as well as that of man of culture and economics. Today this global vision enables the Republic of Malta, under the leadership of President de Marco, to play an important role in the cultural, social and economic partnership between the European Union and Mediterranean Countries: a vital function for the future of the Region and for the preservation of its ancient culture in a period in which the risks of flattening deriving from the globalisation process are well known by everybody.

Awarding Ceremony
Naples, 5 January 2000

PREMIO INTERNAZIONALE LABORATORIO MEDITERRANEO
LENDULET / MOMENTO
Best short‑film by Hungarian director Imre Juhàsz

 The Prize was awarded to “Lendulet” because among the different heterogeneous competing works, the film stood out for the quality of sound, photography and the narrative technique chosen. For this reason the Fondazione Mediterraneo attributed to Imre Juhàsz the International Award Laboratorio Mediterraneo 2000.

Awarding Ceremony
Trieste, 22 January 2000

MEDITERRANEAN AWARD FOR PEACE
LAMBERTO DINI
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic

Minister Dini guided the Italian action aimed at preparing and holding the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial meeting on 3rd and 4^th June 1998 in Palermo, which restored confidence in the principles and intervention programme set forth in the Barcelona Declaration of 28th November 1995. While reaffirming the absolute priority of Euro-Mediterranean Partnership for the regional promotion of an area of peace and shared prosperity, the message coming from Palermo showed, as guideline, the supportive commitment to contrast and remove the causes of instability of political, economic, social and cultural nature. Minister Dini, by asserting the concept of global stability, contributed to the acceptation of this guideline in an action able to accelerate the efforts for a rapid conclusion of a Euro-Mediterranean Charter for peace and stability. Strictly in accordance with this objective, he supported, as a protagonist, the re-launching of dialogue with Libya also in view of favouring the conditions for revoking the sanctions adopted by the Security Council against this Country. It is important for the dialogue to be carried on patiently by all Parties and deepened with the highest mutual comprehension, wishing to fully involve Libya in the efforts to strengthen peace and stability in the region. In the same spirit as in Palermo and in support of the search for a general pacification of the Mediterranean, the visit made in July 1998 to Algiers gave an important contribution, by testifying the existence of a dialogue for a closer cooperation with a Country so hardly affected by a tragic terrorist violence.

Awarding Ceremony
Naples 5 January 1999

MEDITERRANEAN AWARD FOR CULTURE
H.M. HUSSEIN BIN TALAL
King of the Hashemite Kingdom of JORDAN

During 46 years of Reign, His Majesty King Hussein bin Talal worked relentlessly for a long-lasting peace and for the development of mutual comprehension and respect between the people of Jordan and the rest of the Middle East. In addition, he worked to attain a level of cultural tolerance and comprehension, free artistic expression and exchange between different cultures and religions, supporting national and international prestigious artists and intellectuals to practise their culture and creativity without restraint. Through local and International cultural festivals, exhibitions, meetings, scholarships and training programmes, the Government and private organizations have always been encouraged to support the free expression of traditional and contemporary culture, art and literature in all their forms, as well as establishing and maintaining relations between local communities and famous national and international artists for a free exchange of ideas and cultural expressions that can one day be the foundations for a world of peace and cooperation for future generations. His Majesty King Hussein is the author of a ‘culture of peace’ in the Arab World: for these reasons the Fondazione Mediterraneo, with the Accademia del Mediterraneo, has granted to H.M. King Hussein bin Talal the Mediterranean Award for Culture 1999.

Awarding Ceremony
Naples, 5 January 1999

INTERNATIONAL AWARD LABORATORIO MEDITERRANEO
UN ACCENTO PERFETTO
Best short‑film by Italian director Nicola Sornaga

 Extremely high and interesting short‑film which, through its manipulations, its blending of arts and genres, tries to express what cannot be expressed. This work draws an unknown reality and wises up to original rips of the present world. For this reason the Fondazione Mediterraneo attributed to Nicola Sornaga the Mediterranean International Award Laboratorio Mediterraneo 1999.

Awarding Ceremony
Trieste, 24 January 1999

MEDITERRANEAN AWARD FOR PEACE
KIRO GLIGOROV
President of the Republic of Macedonia

A great figure of European anti-fascism and of the war of liberation in the Balkans, Gligorov is the political man who, by his action and prestige within the Yugoslav Federation, has managed to contain a tragic downfall of other similar regimes in Europe. In his acts and writings he has always defended the principles of human rights, of the equality of citizens, of a democratic expression even when these points of view were absolutely a minority. Under his leadership, Macedonia has fully participated in the spirit and practice of European agreement becoming the cornerstone of a policy aiming at the integration of South-Eastern Europe into the framework of European Union. This Award is meant to acknowledge the clear views, the political consistency and determination, as well as the courage always shown by Gligorov, since the constitution of the new post-war Yugoslav situation, in affirming the same fundamental ideas even when they were not in accordance with current policy. Ideas and principles of which he and his Country have become an example.

Awarding Ceremony
Napoli, 5 January 1998

INTERNATIONAL AWARD LABORATORIO MEDITERRANEO
MOJA DOMOVMA
best short-film by jugoslavian director Milos Radovic'

 Moja Domovma by Milos Radovic (Federal Republic of Jugoslavia) represents an ironical and grotesque picture of the present reality of ex-Jugoslavia. For this reason the Fondazione Mediterraneo attributed to Milos Radovic the International Award Laboratorio Mediterraneo 1998.

Awarding Ceremony
Trieste, 18 January 1998

MEDITERRANEAN AWARD FOR CULTURE
H.M. JUAN CARLOS I
King of Spain

He has been able to use the monarchy as a tool of a secure and flourishing transition. With discretion and determination he has pushed hard reintegration of Spain in the concert of a renovated Western world by suggesting with the diversity of the policies the unity of the final outcome and the balance of the autonomies and the respect of the different Iberian cultures, as well as solidarity among people who have been tied by a common history in the past centuries. For this reason the Fondazione Mediterraneo attributed to H.M. Juan Carlos I the Mediterranean Award for Culture 1998.

Awarding Ceremony
Palermo, 1 October 1998

PREMIO SARAJEVO
IZET SARAJLIC'
Poet, BOSNIA

Izet Sarajlic’ is one of the greatest poets of the 20th century. He spent most of his life in Sarajevo, remaining also during the siege of the city: he stayed there until the end. He could leave the town but did not. He was the “voice of Sarajevo” and never ceased to write, though wondering if this might be useful anyway, after what had happened. He could do nothing else. The Fondazione Mediterraneo published “Il Libro degli Addii” (the Book of Farewells) and on the first copy, near to a drawing of a flower dedicated to Rita Allamprese Capasso. Izet wrote a single word: “Thanks”. By this Award we want to remember and thank a great poet for his teaching and his work, a man who showed us that literature in itself would not be enough. We should rather promote peace and mutual respect through positive actions.

Awarding Ceremony
Trieste, 25 January 1997