Prince Albert II and André Azoulay open the international bestowing ceremony for the 2009 Anna Lindh Foundation Journalist Award

Journalists working in communities across the Union for the Mediterranean region, including in Egypt, Spain, Austria, Turkey, Israel and Palestine, have received the highest regional recognition for their reports on issues of cultural diversity at the Anna Lindh Journalist Award Ceremony held yesterday evening.

In his opening speech at the ceremony, Prince Albert II said: "Communication is at the centre of our lives, a central vector for social transformation and to combat those issues which prevent people coming together and accepting the other. Tonight's event represents the willingness of Monaco to be a the heart of the work for the Union for the Mediterranean"

Mr André Azoulay, President of the Anna Lindh Foundation, said: "At the Anna Lindh Foundation we want to fully recognise those journalists who through their courage and talent are able to reach the people at large, educate and effectively communicate the complexities and political challenges of issues related to the Mediterranean's cultural diversity."

The winners of the 2009 edition of the Anna Lindh Journalist Award, which have been selected by an international jury chaired by renowned Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf, include: Ethar El Katatney for written press (Egypt Today, Egypt); Martin Traxl for television (ORF, Austria); Chine Labbé for radio (France Culture, France); Ennio Remondino for television (RAI, Italy); Alberto Arce for conflict reporting (El Mundo, Spain); Lisa Goldman for 'background of conflicts' (Columbia Journalist Review).

There was also a special mention was appointed to ELAPH, an online media in Arabic language based in the UK, with the perspective of the creation of the category 'New Media' for future editions.

The Journalist Award is an initiative of the Anna Lindh Foundation, the institution of the Union for the Mediterranean dedicated to promoting dialogue between cultures, and is carried out in partnership with the COPEAM Mediterranean audio-visual network, the European Commission, the UN Alliance of Civilisations, the Monaco Mediterranean Foundation and Euronews.