PRESS RELEASE REF/1515 11 OCTOBER 1982
OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES
THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES PRESENTS THE NANSEN MEDAL TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE CROWN PRINCESS SONJA OF NORWAY .-
THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, MR POUL HARTLING, PRESENTED THE NANSEN MEDAL FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO REFUGEES TO H.R.H THE CROWN PRINCESS SONJA OF NORWAY TODAY DURING A CEREMONY HELD IN THE PALAIS DES NATIONS IN GENEVA
IN HIS SPEECH AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE MEDAL, MR HARTLING SAID THAT THE AWARDING OF THE MEDAL TO THE CROWN PRINCESS WAS: A WELL-DESERVED TRIBUTE TO YOU,CROWN PRINCESS SONJA, AS WELL AS TO YOUR GREAT COUNTRY, AND ALSO A TOKEN OF RECOGNITION TO THE NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL. DESCRIBING HER AS 'SOMEONE WITH COMPASSION FOR THOSE IN NEED, SOMEONE WITH COURAGE AND CHARACTER, PERCEPTION AND PERSUASION, SOMEONE WITH ORIGINAL IDEAS AND INSPIRATION, COMBINED WITH A CAPACITY TO WORK TOGETHER WITH OTHERS', MR HARTLING SAID NORWAY WAS PRIVILEGED BY THE PRESENCE OF A DEDICATED AND DYNAMIC PERSONALITY WHO WAS READY TO SPARK OFF THE MECHANISM (OF HUMANITARIAN AID) TO ACT AS A CATALYST AND KEEP PUBLIC INTEREST ALIVE'.
CROWN PRINESS SONJA HAS BEEN WORKING TO HELP REFUGEES BOTH IN NORWAY AND OUTSIDE FOR OVER 10 YEARS. IN 1974 AND 1979 SHE PROVIDED LEADERSHIP TO THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL FUND-RAISING CAMPAGINS OF THE NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL. TO PREPARE FOR THE LATTER CAMPAIGN SHE VISITED RECEPTION AND TRANSIT CENTRES IN MALAYSIA AND THAILAND. THIS CAMPAIGN PRODUCED IN ONE DAY A TOTAL OF 74 MILLION NORWEGIAN KRONER (USDLRS. 14 MILLION) FROM THE POPULATION OF 4 MILLION NORWEGIANS, AN ALL-TIME RECORD FOR A NATIONAL COLLECTION OF THIS NATURE. 'SHOWING AS YOU DID YOUR PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO THE CAUSE OF THE UPROOTED AND YOUR DETERMINATION TO IMPROVE THEIR LOT',SAID THE HIGH COMMISSIONER, 'NOT ONLY DID YOU CONQUER. THE HEARTS OF YOUR COMPATRIOTS, YOU ALSO EARNED THE RESPECT AND RECOGNITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, AND ENDEARED YOURSELF, TO THE REFUGEES.'
THE HIGH COMMISSIONER SPOKE OF NORWAY'S SPIRIT OF HUMAN SOLIDARITY WHICH HAD MADE IT A FRONT-RUNNER IN THE FIELD OF HUMANITARIAN AID. HE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE JOINT EFFORTS OF THE GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES, THE MUNICIPALITIES, THE CHURCH THE MAN IN THE STREET, AND THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES. REFLECTING AS THEY DO THE COMMUNITY'S CONSCIENCE, THEY REPRESENT A VAST SPECTRUM OF RELIGIOUS AND NON-DENOMINATIONAL GROUPS AND ADDRESS THEIR TALENTS AND ENERGIES TO THE NEEDS OF THE NEEDIEST AT HOME AND ABROAD. IN A MESSAGE, THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONGRATULATED H.R.H.CROWN PRINCESS SONJA ON THIS 'FITTING RECOGNITION OF HER DEDICATION TO THE CAUSE OF THE HOMELESS'. 'IN A WORLD OF UPHEAVALS. .IT IS INDEED A SOURCE OF COMFORT,HE SIAD THAT IN THE HUMANITARIAN FIELD INITIATIVE SUCH AS HERS CONTINUE TO BE TAKEN WHICH ATTEST TO OUR FAITH IN A BETTER FUTURE.'
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