Lula Da Silva Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation 2003

The Jury for the Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation 2003, convened in Oviedo, comprising D.ª María Jesús Álvarez González, D. Enrique Barón, D. Emilio Cassinello, D. Manuel Díaz Ron, D. Severino García Vigón, D. Antonio Garrigues Walker, D. Luis Lada Díaz, D. Ricardo Martí Fluxá, D. José María Martín Patino, D. Elías Masaveu, D. Francisco Pinto Balsemão, D. Carlos Robles Piquer, D. Luis Ruiz de Gopegui Miguel, D. Ignacio Ruíz-Jarabo, D. Luis Sánchez-Merlo, D. Nicolás Sartorius, D. Alfonso de la Serna, D. Gustavo Suárez Pertierra, chaired by Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo and with D. Teodoro López-Cuesta acting as secretary, have agreed by majority vote to bestow the 2003 Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation to D. Inácio Lula da Silva.

With its decision, the Jury wishes to recognise a political and personal career in defence of workers and in the fight against poverty, inequality and corruption, which have caused so much suffering to the cast-offs of his country and of the world as a whole. It also wishes to recognise his dedication to building bridges for cooperation between the southern Latin American countries themselves, and between Latin America and Europe, by proposing an International Forum to combat hunger.

President Lula de Silva boasts an admirable past in the struggle for justice; he is the driving force behind political stances that are replete with good sense, and he is the symbol of great hope.

Oviedo, 18th June 2003