Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation 2006

At its meeting in Oviedo, the Jury for the 2006 Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation, made up of María Jesús Álvarez González, Enrique Barón, José María Bergareche, Emilio Cassinello, Alicia Castro Masaveu, Manuel Díaz Ron, Jorge de Esteban, Severino García Vigón, Antonio Garrigues Walker, Isabel Gómez-Acebo, Laura González, Luis Lada Díaz, Ricardo Martí Fluxá, José María Martín Patino, Marcelino Oreja Aguirre, Yago Pico de Coaña, Francisco Pinto Balsemăo, Mariano Puig Planas, Luis Ruiz de Gopegui Miguel, Luis Sánchez-Merlo, Nicolás Sartorius, Gustavo Suárez Pertierra, chaired by Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo with Teodoro López-Cuesta as secretary, has decided to bestow the 2006 Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which contributes to the health of mankind globally, contributing considerable private resources of its founders in particular to the continent of Africa and providing essential funding to the aim of eradicating illnesses like malaria, Aids and others that cause the death of millions of people a year.

The Jury appreciates and prizes the merits of the instigators of the Foundation for exemplifying generosity and philanthropy in the face of the ills that ravage the world. The generosity of Bill and Melinda Gates is an invaluable contribution to international cooperation and an ethical benchmark to stir the consciences of all who have the responsibility and the means to help alleviate inequalities and the deprivation of so many millions of people.

Oviedo, 4^th May 2006