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Download PDF More messages greeting Prof Muhammad Yunus and his Grameen Bank for winning the Nobel Peace Prize reached yesterday.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store and International Development Minister Erik Solheim have congratulated Prof Muhammad Yunus and his Grameen Bank.
“I extend my congratulation to Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank of Bangladesh who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2006″, said Stoltenberg in a message.
The Norwegian prime minister said for 30 years they have granted loans to the poor and in particular to women, making it possible for them to start new enterprises and work their way out of poverty.
In another message, Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store said, “I am very pleased that the Norwegian Nobel Committee has paid this tribute to Prof Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank.”
“They have provided concrete and down to earth help that has enabled millions of people to rise out of poverty. The Grameen Bank is one of the most important examples of successful development assistance. It has created a micro-credit model that is being copied all over the world, Store said.
“The award is very pleasing and I would like to offer my warmest congratulation to Prof Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank,” said International Development Minister Erik Solheim.
Solheim said, “I nominated Prof Yunus for the Nobel Peace Prize in the 1990s when I was a member of the Storting (the Norwegian parliament), so I am delighted by this decision. It is appropriate and important that the Nobel Committee has highlighted the key importance of development and the fight against poverty in peace efforts.”
“This is an enormously creative contribution to the development debate. It is obvious that improving people’s living conditions is an important factor in creating peace. I am very happy, therefore, that the Nobel Committee is directing focus to this issue. Micro-credit is something this government gives priority to - and will give greater priority to in the future,” he said.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has congratulated Nobel Peace Prize winner Prof. Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank.
In his message, the EC president said, “On behalf of the European Commission, it is my great pleasure to congratulate you and the Grameen Bank most warmly on the richly deserved nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. You embody the advocacy for the world’s poor and Grameen Bank’s approach to the poor has become a model for countries all over the world.
“Since Bangladesh’s independence you have worked tirelessly for the cause of the poor by pulling the poorest of the poor out of poverty through innovative economic programmes like micro-credit.”
The EC president said the United Nations has rightly coined the micro-credit as a weapon against poverty and hunger and means of reaching the UN Millennium Development Goals.
He said, “I know that the international community will be able to count on your continued commitment to world peace in the years to come.”
President of the Federal Republic of Germany Prof Horst Kohler has greeted Prof. Muhammad Yunus on behalf of the government and the people of Germany on his winning this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
In a letter of congratulation, he said, “Without long-term success in combating poverty, there can be no peace in the world. The fact is that you have been distinguished with the Nobel Peace Prize, which is a sign that this connection has been recognised, and this fills me with great joy and reassurance.”
Through your efforts, Kohler said, the micro-credit system has made the breakthrough to become an important instrument of development policy and a vital tool for combating poverty.
“In the rural areas, credit of this kind often provides the only means for investment,” he said describing the allocation of micro-credit loans as a proven means of combating poverty.
“The micro-credit system thus represents one of the most successful instruments at our disposal in pursuing the Millennium Development Goals, which is important for the future of our world,” he said.
Transparency International (TI), and a number of its chapters worldwide have sent messages of congratulation to Nobel Peace laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus.
In his message yesterday, founder of TI and Chairman of TI Advisory Council Dr Peter Eigen said, “I want to congratulate you for this wonderful and well deserved honour. We feel elated that the fight against poverty has been recognised as an essential way to build peace.”
Ms Huguette Lebelle, chairman of the TI board, said, “Yunus’ work and genius have reflected on the people of Bangladesh. He is a leader in recognising how access to credit has liberated the poor and given them the opportunity to gain greater self credit and self sufficiency.”
Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of TIB, said, “The Noble Peace Prize awarded to Prof Yunus and Grameen Bank has given the people of Bangladesh a sense of pride and honour that can be equalled only to our achievement of independence in 1971.”
He said the prize is not only a recognition to Prof Yunus’ extraordinary innovation and contribution to development, social change and justice, but also a tribute to all social entrepreneurs across the world, for whom it will be a great source of strength and inspiration.
Japan yesterday congratulated the Nobel laureate and his Grameen Bank.
In a statement the Japanese government said: “Professor Yunus started a micro-credit project for poor people and made an epoch-making contribution to give them a basis for self-reliance via Grameen Bank which he established. We highly praise that he has presented a new model for poverty alleviation to the world and made a great contribution to poverty eradication at the international level.
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