Cowen welcomes Nobel peace prize for UN

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, has welcomed the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to United Nations and its Secretary General, Kofi Annan.

Mr Cowen said he had been struck by the “spirit and determination” of Mr Annan and “his tireless efforts to promote and defend the principles of the UN”, while working with him during Ireland’s term as the Presidency of the Security Council.