London, October 2016. On Friday 7 October 2016 it was announced that HE Mr Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, President of the Republic of Colombia, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his resolute efforts to end over five decades of armed conflict in Colombia.
The Nobel Peace Prize award follows the historic peace agreement signed by President Santos with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in Cartagena, Colombia on 26 September 2016. The ceremony held in the presence of dignitaries, including the Secretary General of the United Nations, HE Ban Ki-moon, signifies the end of the longest running war in Latin America.
Many knights and dames will recall that President Santos was invested into the Constantinian Order in June 2013 at a ceremony held in London and conducted by the Grand Master, HRH Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro. The award was granted for ‘his significant and longstanding contribution to peace and reconciliation in Colombia and in recognition of President Santos’s faith inspired contribution to the alleviation of poverty and its associated problems’.
The Delegate for Great Britain and Ireland, Anthony Bailey said “This is truly a historic moment and the knights and dames of the Order join with countless millions across the world in congratulating our confrere President Santos and the many others for their determined efforts and hard work in achieving such a remarkable result. The signing of this long awaited peace agreement gives the people of Colombia and the entire region the hope of a peaceful and prosperous future. The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize reinforces this in the strongest possible way .”
President Santos will pay a historic State Visit to the United Kingdom as a guest of HM The Queen in November 2016.
To visit the official website of President Santos please click here.
To read the story about President of Colombia London investiture please click here.
To watch the video of President Santos’s investiture please click here.