Fernando Henrique Cardoso Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation 2000

The Jury for the Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation 2000, convened in Oviedo, comprising Enrique Álvarez, María Jesús Álvarez González, Agustín Antuña, Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo, Alejandro Echevarría, Mercedes Fernández, Enrique Fernández-Miranda, Antonio Garrigues Walker, Laura González Álvarez, Ricardo Martí Fluxá, Marcelino Oreja Aguirre, Luis Ruiz de Gopegui Miguel, Nicolás Sartorius, Alfonso de la Serna, Gustavo Suárez Pertierra, Santiago Zaldumbide Viadas, chaired by Francisco Pinto Balsemão and with Teodoro López-Cuesta Egocheaga as secretary, has decided to grant the Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation 2000 to H.E. Mr. Fernando Henrique Cardoso, the President of the Federal Republic of Brazil.

The Jury wish to honour President Cardoso for his persistant work both in Brazil and further afield in favour of strengthening democratic values, radically improving government organisations and for striving for the progress and wellbeing of this people.

They would also like to point to his efforts to promote regional cooperation in South America and his wise, well-balanced leadership during the process of bringing the countries forming Mercosur together.

The statesman's vision of Fernando Henrique Cardoso is also testified to in his support and encouragement of culture, as shown by his strenuous efforts to encourage the teaching of the Portuguese language in the countries of the region and the teaching of Spanish in Brazil. This will open up now horizons for a better knowledge and cooperation between the communities that speak these two languages.

Oviedo, 14th June 2000