Assunción (Paraguay), June 18, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was chosen this morning to receive the 2003 Prince of Asturias International Cooperation prize. The award, a Spanish version of the Nobel prize, is given each year to individuals, groups, or institutions that have distinguished themselves for work accomplished on behalf of greater unity among nations. 14 representatives of countries such as Belgium, Canada, and China disputed the prize.

President Lula was both pleased and surprised when he received the news. According to Presidential Press Secretary, Ricardo Kotscho, the President did not even know he was in the running.

Celso Amorim, Minister of Foreign Relations, hails the President's performance and points out that the award "is proof of the understanding that he has been seeking among peoples all over the world to join the fight against hunger and extreme poverty."

The awards ceremony will be held in October in the city of Oviedo, capital of the province of Asturias, in the north of Spain. The President will receive the amount of R$ 45 thousand and a replica of a statuette by the Spanish artist, Miró. Lula has still not decided what he will do with the prize. He is thinking of donating the money to the Zero Hunger Program. In 2000, ex-President Fernando Henrique Cardoso received the same award in the city of Oviedo. (DAS)