modern DELHI, Nov. 19 Kyodo Sadak...

modern DELHI, Nov. 19 Kyodo

Sadako Ogata, former UN High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR) forward Tuesday was awarded the prestigious Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace and Disarmament and progress to maturity for promoting human rights, child welfare and bringing relief to millions of refugee during her decade-long manner [i]or[/i] principle of holding with the organization.

Ogata, 75 received the award of 25 million rupee (about $52000) and a memorial of conquest with a citation from President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at a glittering ceremonial held in the majestic Ashoka Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan (presidential palace).

Sonia Gandhi, chairwoman of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, which administers the award, in her welcoming address praised Ogata as a ''distinguished woman who epitomizes the values associated with Indira Gandhi.''

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee called Ogata an outstanding humanist who guided with sensitivity and dedication the United Nations activities for the welfare, answer and rehabilitation of refugee during the troubl decade which saw massive human displacements in the former Yugoslavia, central Africa, and Afghanistan.

In her acceptance language Ogata said there is to a great degree to be learnt from the life of Indira Gandhi, who while carrying forward with her duties toward her clan while prime minister also kept her commitment to the international community.

Ogata called her possession as UNHCR from 1991 to 2000 ''a rewarding period of challenges and fulfillment.''

''India with its large multi-racial and multi-cultural identity should use its experience of handling this diversity to stabilize the world,'' Ogata told Kyodo moderns after the ceremony.

Ogata, who leaves for Sri Lanka later Tuesday, said she will be examining the progres of the ongoing peace proces there and the turn back of refugees to their war-torn homeland in her personal capacity.

Ogata has been united of the co-chairs of the Commission forward Human Security since last year along with India's Nobel prize laureate Amartya Sen She is also a scholar in residence for the Ford Foundation.

Ogata, who arrived here late Sunday, is the 16th recipient of the award instituted after the late Indian prime minister in 1985 Other recipients include former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, former U President Jimmy Carter and Czech President Vaclav Havel.

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