OSLO, October 7. /TASS/. The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2016 to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos "for his resolute efforts to bring the country's more than 50-year-long civil war to an end, war that has cost the lives of at least 220 000 Colombians and displaced close to six million people."
"The award should also be seen as a tribute to the Colombian people who, despite great hardships and abuses, have not given up hope of a just peace, and to all the parties who have contributed to the peace process. This tribute is paid, not least, to the representatives of the countless victims of the civil war," the committee said in a statement.
"President Santos initiated the negotiations that culminated in the peace accord between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrillas, and he has consistently sought to move the peace process forward," the committee said.
The decision to give the award to Santos comes five days after 50.2% of Colombians voted in a referendum to reject a peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
"This result has created great uncertainty as to the future of Colombia. There is a real danger that the peace process will come to a halt and that civil war will flare up again," the Nobel Committee warned, wishing Santos to achieve peace, reconciliation and justice in his country.
Santos was selected from a record number of 376 candidates. The Nobel Prize is worth 8 million Swedish crowns ($933,000).