Nobel Peace Prize Means "Honor and Challenge": Annan

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who was awarded Friday the Nobel Peace Prize along with the United Nations, said the honor "challenges us to do more and to do better, not to rest on our laurels."

In early comments to reporters after the announcement, Annan said the Nobel Peace Prize "is going to be great encouragement to me, personally, and for all my colleagues at the United Nations, and we look forward to pressing ahead."

Speaking to the press as he left his residence in New York on Friday morning, the secretary-general said the Prize was "an indication that the United Nations is a very important organization in this interdependent world where we have to work together."

The challenge ahead, he said, was to "move forward and work with governments and make sure that there is true international cooperation and multilateralism."

Asked how he personally felt, the Secretary-General said, " humbled, humbled but also encouraged."

To a question on the impact of the award on the UN's work, he replied: "I hope it will change the Organization in the sense that it will energize all of us to do more and to carry on with our work."

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