Issam Fares Award for Excellence Presented to Algerian Leader Lakhdar Brahimi

For his Outstanding Devotion& Contributions to World Welfare& Peace'

The Board of Trustees of 'The Middle East Institute'- the oldest American institution interested in the affairs of the Middle East in Washington- decided the establishment of an annual award on behalf of H.E. the former Deputy Prime Minister of Lebanon Mr. Issam Fares, to be granted to a personality that offered distinguished services in serving peace in the Middle East and on the diplomatic, cultural, economic, scientific, humanitarian levels, or on any other influential level.

This year, choice fell on Algerian Lakhdar Brahimi to be the first holder of the prize in a tremendous ceremony held in Washington DC.

Fares' son, Mr. Nijad Fares, presented the award on behalf of his father, hailing the personality of Brahimi, the achievements he realized, and the contributions he made in the management of crises that some Middle Eastern and world countries had experienced. Mr. Nijad mainly applauded Brahimi's strenuous efforts in dealing with Lebanon's crisis in 1989 as well as Afghanistan's and Iraq's crises, deeming he is 'a man distinguished by his devotion and contributions to regional and international welfare and peace'.