New York, December 9, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President Fernando Henrique Cardoso will be awarded today the "Mahbub ul Haq" prize, conferred by the United Nations (UN), for the stimulus given to human development during his eight years in office. Cardoso will be the first world figure to receive the prize, which was created this year and will be awarded every two years to heads of State and world leaders who have distinguished themselves in the implementation of development on their countries' political agenda.

Yesterday the president told Brazilian journalists that the prize is a recognition of Brazil - the developing country that registered the best indicators of education, health, and access to land, in an atmosphere of democracy and liberty. "Economic development was not what we wished, but, with solid social policies, it was possible, despite this and the stabilization policy we maintained over these years, to increase social expenditures and improve the quality of these expenditures," the president affirmed. (DAS)