Urho Kekkonen

Former President of Finland

AWARD LAUREATES | Urho Kekkonen


Urho Kekkonen

Former President of Finland

Urho Kekkonen was the former Prime Minister and President of Finland. Born in 1900, in the Savo region of Finland, he fought for the White Guard during the Finnish Civil War. Once the war was over and Finland had become independent in 1921, Mr Kekkonen began his career as a journalist before moving to Helsinki in order to study law.  During this period of study he also worked for the security police EK, which familiarised him with anti-Communist policing. In 1927, following his graduation from university, Mr Kekkonen began practicing as a lawyer, working for the Association of Rural Municipalities. In 1936 he undertook his Doctorate in Law at the University of Helsinki, soon becoming involved in the Northern Ostrobothnian Student Nation. He also served as Editor in Chief of the student newspaper during this time.  He became actively involved within the student political scene, particularly right wing movements. In 1933, Mr Kekkonen became a civil servant within the Ministry of Agriculture and was subsequently elected to parliament in 1936. Upon his election he became Justice Minister and remained in the post for one year. Following this, he served as Minister for Interior from 1937 to 1939. During the Continuation War, Mr Kekkonen became the Director of the Karelian Evacuees Welfare Centre and also served as the Ministry of Finance’s Commissioner for Co-ordination. By 1944 he had become a leading politician within the Peace Opposition, once again being appointed Minister of Justice where he was given the task of dealing with the war trials. From 1948 to 1950 his success and knowledge led to him becoming Speaker of Parliament and eventually Prime Minister. He was then elected President in 1956, yet it was not until his re-election that he began to drastically alter existing policies. Some of the foreign policy initiatives that he instigated included the Nordic nuclear free zone proposal, a border agreement with Norway and a conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. He did not, however, alter his predecessors policies of neutrality. He was elected for a third term in 1968 and again for a fourth in the 1978 Presidential election. During these terms he continued to strive for improved Finnish-Soviet relations and closer military cooperation. He was forced to resign due to ill health in 1981 before his death in 1986.

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Sadequain Naqqash

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Sadequain Naqqash

Painter

Sadequain Naqqash was a legendary Pakistani artist, whose talent earned him widespread recognition and awards, including the Gold Mercury International Award. He was born in 1930 to a family whose trade was calligraphy. In the late 1940′s he joined the Progressive Writers and Artist Movement and his exceptional skill was quickly recognised, allowing him to hold his first solo exhibition in 1954. During the 1960′s he focused on the idea of labour, struggle and persistence against natural elements and these ideals featured heavily in his works of the time. Sadequain was deeply interested in the mysteries of the universe, the meaning of life, role of human beings in the universe, freedom and self-determination, survival and progress and the fine line between reason and emotion. He became well known for his exquisite calligraphy skills, acting as an innovator in this medium in Pakistan. He is often credited with bringing this art form into the mainstream. He was also renowned for his murals which earned him respect and admiration around the world. These large murals dealt with a range of subjects. His most famous mural is currently situated in the Head Office of the State Bank of Pakistan and is entitled, ‘Treasures of Time’. He was dedicated to his art and known to paint all day and night and it is estimated that he created over 15,000 pieces of artwork. His talent earned him numerous awards, including the ‘Tamgha e Imtiaz’, the ‘Laureate Biennale de Paris’ and the ‘Quaid e Azam Award’.

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Professor Thomas Risley Odhiambo

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Professor Thomas Risley Odhiambo

Entomologist and Environmental Activist

Professor Thomas Risley Odhiambo (February 4, 1931 Alego, Nyanza Province – May 26, 2003) was a Kenyan entomologist and environmental activist who directed research and scientific development in Africa. He was described as a “Visionary entomologist harnessing science for Africa’s poor”. Odhiambo was the founding director of the Nairobi-based International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) and a leading figure in African science for several decades.

He encouraged the younger generation of thinkers to venture into the fine arts, investigate its relation to history of life sciences and to go out and create global academies and research institutions using technology. His inspiring effect led to the re–emergence of accumulated indigenous knowledge and technology systems in the modern African world. He led visions on agricultural development in Africa by initiating effective scientific projects leading to advancement in growing indigenous crops and disseminating methods of insect control.

“Thomas was a special man on a mission to improve Africa’s food sustainability and the wellbeing of its people. He is one of our most deserving laureates.”
– Eduardo De Santis, Chairman of Gold Mercury International, remembering Odhiambo

Professor Odhiambo published several books focused to improve sustainable food production and the african crisis including:

  • Land-Use Literacy for Sustainable Food Production in Africa, 1994
  • Science for Development in Africa : Proceedings of the Consultation on the Management of Science for Development in Africa, Duduville, Kasarani, Nairobi, Kenya, November 21-24, by Turner Timinipre Isoun, 1988
  • Hope Born Out of Despair : Managing the African Crisis, by United Nations University.

Shem Wandiga, former president of the Kenya National Academy of Sciences (KNAS), said that Odhiambo had been a “giant of a scientist” in Africa. “We might have underestimated his accomplishments in this part of the world but internationally he was recognised and respected,” he said. “Our efforts now should be to further his dream for a science-led African development.”

Link to The Guardian Obituary

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Poul Hartling

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Poul Hartling

Former Danish Prime Minister and UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Poul Hartling was presented with the Gold Mercury Award for International Law & Humanitarian Affairs in 1982. He was a member of the Liberal Party of Denmark, serving as Foreign Minister from 1968 to 1971 in the cabinet of Hilmar Baunsgaard. Mr Hartling became Prime Minster of Denmark in 1973 after the Danish Social Democratic Party Government of Anker Jørgensen was unable to form a government following the 1973 election. He served as Prime Minster from 1973 to 1975 until the Social Democrats regained the leadership of Denmark. In 1978, Mr Hartling became the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, a post he held for eight years. During his time as High Commissioner, the issue of refugees had become a major issue due to the escalation of the Cold War. Furthermore, the mass exodus in Indochina and the lack of an international response to the issue meant the UNHCR had to lead complex and highly politicised humanitarian operation. Other high profile relief operations undertaken by UNHCR, under the direction of Mr Hartling included finding relief for refugees in the Horn of Africa and Central America, as well as for Afghan refugees in Asia. In 1981 UNICEF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, an award Mr Hartling accepted on behalf of the organisation.

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Pakistan Television Corp

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Pakistan Television Corp

Broadcaster

Pakistan Television Corp is a public and commercial broadcasting television network, as well as a state owned mega-corporation. It was founded in 1964 by an international sector organisation NEC. Its first broadcast was transmitted from a small pilot station in Lahore in November 1964, followed by Dhaka, Bangladesh in 1965, Rawalpindi and Islamabad in 1965 and then Karachi in 1966. In 1971, Pakistan Television, under a nationalisation programme, became government owned. This allowed its network infrastructure to expand all over the country. Whilst originally broadcasting in black and white, colour television was eventually introduced by the network in 1976. In 1987, The Pakistan Television Academy was created in order to educate students who had an interest in working within the television media sector. A full scale satellite broadcasting service was launched in 1991, before digital TV satellite broadcasting was introduced in 1999. Programmes produced by Pakistan Television Corp are varied and include dramas, documentaries, current affairs stories, entertainment and sport. Its programmes are produced in Urdu as well as other regional languages such as Sindhi, Punjabi, Pashto and Balochi. The viewer base, in 2012, rose significantly and the network now enjoys a considerable percentage of Pakistani viewership.

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Merawi Sitot

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Merawi Sitot

Ethiopian Musician and Artistic Luminary

Artist Merawi Sitot was born in 1936 in the rural Ethiopian region of Wollo Ambassel. An orchestra that came to town one day had such a profound impact on him that at age 14 he moved to Addis Ababa to pursue a musical career.  Merawi helped set up the Ethiopian National Theatre and managed the National Theatre’s Music Orchestra for 27 years.

Through a long and versatile musical career, he worked with his country across three successive governments as a sax and clarinet player and arranger for more than 43 years, writing and composing music that he toured around the world with fellow musicians including the acclaimed Tilahun. Together with other artists of the “Golden Era” of Ethiopian music, they helped raise awareness and opened up enjoyment of African music to a global audience.

Upon receiving the Gold Mercury International Award for Global Culture in 1985 for his contributions to his country’s culture, he dedicated it to the national theatre, his self-pronounced “second-home”, declaring:

”Though this award is given to me, it is not only mine. It is the output of my friends who have been working so hard with me for the last 43 years […] rather this [the national theater] is the right place for it.”

This year, the ninth edition of the Ethiopian Music Festival held at the National theatre, which is organised by the alliance Ethio-Francaise with the support of various embassies and institutions, was dedicated to Merawi along with Getachew Debalque, another luminary of the Ethiopian musical stage.

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Javier Perez de Cuellar

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Javier Perez de Cuellar

Former Secretary General of the United Nations

Javier Perez de Cuellar is a Peruvian politician and the former Secretary General of the United Nations. He began his diplomatic career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1940 and remained at the Ministry until 1944 when he left Peru to serve as Secretary in Peru’s embassies in France, United Kingdom, Bolivia and Brazil. He would also later serve as Ambassador to Switzerland, the Soviet Union and Venezuela. He became a member of the Peruvian delegation to the UN General Assembly in 1946 during its first session. In 1971 he was selected as the Permanent Representative of Peru to the UN, a role he held until 1975. In 1974 he represented Peru in the Security Council, serving as President in 1974 during the unrest in Cyprus. The following year he was selected to become the Special Representative of the Secretary General in Cyprus. In 1979 he was chosen to become the UN Under Secretary General for Special Political Affairs. In early 1981 he returned to Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, before he was appointed Secretary General of the UN in December that year. He was later re-elected for a second term in 1986. During his presidency he led mediations between Britain and Argentina as well as promoted the efforts of the Contadora Group whose aims were to secure peace and stability for countries in Central America. He also dealt with issue of Cyprus and assisted in negotiations for the independence of Namibia. He later ran an unsuccessful campaign to be President of Peru and instead became the President of the Council of Ministers and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as Peru’s Ambassador to France. He is a member of Club de Madrid, which is comprised of former leaders who work to promote democracy.

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Huang Hua

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Huang Hua

Former Foreign Minister of The People’s Republic of China

Huang Hua was a Chinese politician who served as the Foreign Minister from 1976 to 1982. Born soon after the fall of the Qing Dynasty, he studied at Yanjing University in Beijing during the 1930’s and was a student leader at the University during his time there. In 1936, shortly before China’s domestically devastating war with Japan, he joined the Communist Party. In the early stages of his career, Mr Hua was actively involved in the Beijing Communist Youth League. He was then appointed as assistant to Zhu De who was known as one of the greater communist leaders of the 1940′s. His next post was as Secretary to General Ye Jianying during the civil war. Mr Hua had strong English skills and thus the Communist Party’s victory over the Kuomintang; he served as a translator for Mao Zedong. He was also involved in truce talks during the Korean War. He then gained prominence as a diplomat, serving as an Ambassador in Ghana, Egypt and Canada. He then returned to China in order to assist in talks with the United States. He was heavily involved in China’s new brand of international diplomacy, shown through his involvement in China joining the United Nations in 1971. In 1976 he was selected as Foreign Minister and following his appointment he managed to negotiate and have a Friendship Accord signed with Japan in 1978, which led to increased diplomatic relations between the two countries. This new friendship assisted China’s economic reform process. In 1980 he played a pivotal role in China’s talks with the United Kingdom regarding the status of Hong Kong. His term as Foreign Minister was characterised by his desire to re-establish China as an international player.

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His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan

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His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan

Imam of Nizari Ismailism

His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan is the Imam of Nizari Ismailism and the Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network. Born in Geneva in 1936, he assumed the position of Aga Khan following his grandfather’s death in 1957. He also became the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, as he is a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. He graduated from Harvard University in 1959 with a degree in Islamic History before continuing in his role of Imamat. In this role he stated he wanted to continue the work of his grandfather who had sought to build modern institutions in order to improve the quality of life of the Nizari Ismailis. He also advocated the importance of fostering co-operation and positive relations with different ethnicities and religions. His position also included a large degree of diplomacy, including when President Idi Amin of Uganda expelled Nizari Ismailis from the country in 1972. Prince Aga Khan enlisted the assistance of Canadian President Pierre Trudeau who allowed the Nizari Ismailis to migrate to Canada. Prince Aga Khan has also had an active interest in development programmes and has encouraged Nizari Ismailis to contribute to the progress of the developing world. In 1982 he was presented with the Gold Mercury International Award, which coincided, with his silver jubilee year of Imamat and the launch of many social and economic development projects. He founded the Aga Khan Development Network which has become one of the largest private development networks in the world and co-ordinates 200 agencies and institutions, with staff mostly based in developing nations. It operates in the fields of education, culture, health and economic development focusing on Third World countries, with its network operating in 35 of the poorest countries in the world. He is also a celebrated businessman, owning hundreds of racehorses and valuable stud farms. During the course of his career he has been bestowed with numerous honorary titles, degrees and awards.

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All Africa Leprosy & Rehabilitation Training Centre

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All Africa Leprosy & Rehabilitation Training Centre

Medical Facility

The All Africa Leprosy & Rehabilitation Training Centre, now called The All Africa Leprosy, Tuberculosis and Rehabilitation Training (ALERT) Centre, won the 1982 Gold Mercury International Humanitarian Award for their advancements in global health. The medical facility, situated in Addis Ababa specialises in Hansen’s disease, also commonly known as leprosy. Their work focuses on the treatment and rehabilitation of patients as well as training programmes for medical professionals who treat leprosy around the world. They also specialise in research into the disease, which is undertaken in their Armauer Hansen Research Institute that was founded in 1970. The leprosy hospital was originally built by Dr Thomas Lambie in 1922, however, ALERT has continued to expand and build upon these foundations.

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