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Former Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU)
Photo: Filip Singer / epa
"We can do it" is probably the defining sentence of Angela Merkel's chancellorship;
a phrase of confidence in some, a symbol of scorn in others.
The former chancellor's decision in the summer of 2015 to leave the borders open to those seeking protection brought her criticism and recognition.
Now the sentence is followed by an award with the Unesco Peace Prize.
Unesco in Paris announced that Merkel is expected to attend a ceremony in Yamoussoukro, the capital of the Ivory Coast, on Wednesday.
She is honored for taking in more than 1.2 million refugees in Germany.
The jury of the Félix Houphouët Boigny Peace Prize, named after the former president of Ivory Coast, praised her "brave decision" in 2015.
The chairman of the African Union (AU), the Senegalese President Macky Sall, and numerous other presidents of African countries are also expected.
Since 1989, the prize has been awarded to institutions or individuals who have made a contribution to securing peace.
Previous winners include French President François Hollande, who was honored in 2013 for French intervention in Mali.
At the time, this was considered a »contribution to peace and stability in Africa«.
However, this mission ended last summer without having improved the security situation in the country.
Already in October last year, Merkel was awarded the renowned Nansen Prize of the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) for her refugee policy.
At that time, Merkel had made the prize money of 150,000 dollars (around 152,000 euros) available in equal parts to four regional prize winners, who were awarded at the same time.
Among them were a doctor in Iraq and a woman who has been supporting refugees in Costa Rica for more than 50 years.
She dedicated the award herself to those people in Germany who work for refugees.
Merkel quoted Erich Kästner in her acceptance speech: "There is nothing good unless you do it."
mrc/AFP
