The United Nations and its Secretary-General, Kofi Anan, are the Nobel Peace Prize winners for the year 2001. The Norwegian Nobel Committee, based in Oslo, said the award was granted in recognition of their work for a better-organized and more peaceful world. The $900,000 prize will be divided equally between the United Nations and Anan.
Foreign Minister Peres praised Anan on Israel Radio\'s noon news program today, saying that Anan \"related nicely to us and showed interest in the matter of the Israelis who were kidnapped by Hizbullah.\" Referring to the fact that the kidnapping was carried out with either the passive or active help of members of the UN\'s Indian contingent, Peres said, \"Anan corrected what he could.\" Chaim Avraham, father of one of the abducted soldiers - from whom not a sign of life has been forthcoming since they were kidnapped over a year ago - was interviewed next. Dr. Aaron Lerner of IMRA reports that Avraham \"blasted Peres for ignoring the fact that Kofi Anan still refuses to share the UN\'s DNA results from the bloodstains on articles associated with the kidnapping. The DNA results would enable Israel to identify the soldiers who bled as they were taken into captivity.\" Mr. Avraham also charged Anan with holding back information that he received almost immediately after the incident, and said, \"Once again, Shimon Peres turns Israel\'s other cheek.\"
Foreign Minister Peres praised Anan on Israel Radio\'s noon news program today, saying that Anan \"related nicely to us and showed interest in the matter of the Israelis who were kidnapped by Hizbullah.\" Referring to the fact that the kidnapping was carried out with either the passive or active help of members of the UN\'s Indian contingent, Peres said, \"Anan corrected what he could.\" Chaim Avraham, father of one of the abducted soldiers - from whom not a sign of life has been forthcoming since they were kidnapped over a year ago - was interviewed next. Dr. Aaron Lerner of IMRA reports that Avraham \"blasted Peres for ignoring the fact that Kofi Anan still refuses to share the UN\'s DNA results from the bloodstains on articles associated with the kidnapping. The DNA results would enable Israel to identify the soldiers who bled as they were taken into captivity.\" Mr. Avraham also charged Anan with holding back information that he received almost immediately after the incident, and said, \"Once again, Shimon Peres turns Israel\'s other cheek.\"