Salvadoran president to receive Path to Peace award

, Jun 3, 2008 / 02:02 am MT (CNA).-

The Path to Peace Foundation, an agency established to support the work of the Holy See’s mission to the United Nations, has awarded its 2008 Path to Peace award to Elías Antonio Saca González, President of El Salvador.

Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and Path to Peace Foundation president, said the foundation board had unanimously selected the Salvadoran president for the award.  According to a press release from the Holy See’s permanent observer mission, President Saca was chosen for his efforts in upholding the peace agreements reached between the Salvadoran government and rebel groups.

A former television sports announcer, President Saca has in the past headed the Salvadoran Radio Association and the International Radio Broadcasting Association’s Permanent Committee of Freedom of Speech.  Having become a national opinion leader, he was nominated as the ARENA party candidate for mayor and later was nominated for the presidency.

After taking office in 2004, President Saca introduced legal and fiscal reforms and has traced out a “map of poverty” to assist in anti-poverty programs.

The 2008 Path to Peace Award will be presented to President Saca at a gala dinner held at United Nations Headquarters on June 10.