Bangkok, 25 February, 2004 - His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej
of Thailand was presented with the Habitat Scroll of Honour Award at a
special ceremony on Wednesday by Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, Under-Secretary
General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN-HABITAT. The
hand-crafted gold plaque was presented during an audience at the Krai
Kangwon Palace.
The Habitat Scroll of Honour is the highest award conferred by the UN-HABITAT
to individuals, projects or institutions in recognition of significant
contributions to improving human settlements. The award is presented each
year on the occasion of World Habitat Day, which takes place on the first
Monday of each October. Occasionally, in the rare case of extraordinary
contributions made by an individual, a Special Citation is conferred.
Last October, His Majesty the King was the only recipient of the Special
Citation.
His Majesty has been awarded the honour in recognition of his outstanding
contribution to improving water resource management in Thailand. The King’s
tireless efforts to developing the human habitat in Thailand have been
well documented. Notable among his contributions include the pollution
control of Bangkok’s canals and the innovative water treatment of
the Makkasan Lake. The Pa Sak River Basin Development Project has reduced
water pollution in Bangkok and other major cities of central Thailand.
Other projects have targeted the management of floods and the salinity
of water resources in Southern Thailand. These are but a few examples
in a long standing commitment to the implementation of Royal Development
Projects aimed at improving the living environment in Thailand.
“This Special Citation of the Habitat Scroll of Honour has been
given in recognition of His Majesty’s outstanding contribution to
sustainable habitats and improving the lives of people in cities and communities
in the Kingdom of Thailand,” said Mrs. Tibaijuka. “The comprehensive
and integrated nature of His Majesty’s Royal Development Projects
is a lesson to all of us eager to protect our natural environment. His
Majesty the King’s concept of sufficiency economy can also form
the basis of value based water education programmes through out the Asia
Pacific region.”
Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, who is on an official visit to Thailand, also paid
a courtesy call on Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand to discuss
long-standing and future UN-HABITAT projects in the country.
For further information, please contact: Mr. Sharad Shankardass,
Spokesperson, or Ms. Zahra A. Hassan, Media Liaison, Press & Media
relations Unit, Tel: (254 20) 623153/623151, Fax: (254 20) 624060, E-mail:
habitat.press@unhabitat.org,
Website: www.unhabitat.org
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