I have had the great privilege to attend my first United Nations General Assembly as a Delegate for the Order of Malta this past September 2016. Some might think a highlight would be President Obama giving his last address to the UN, and although he spoke eloquently, I must say my personal highlight had to be when Columbia’s President Juan Manuel Santos declared the end to his country’s 50+ year civil war. Unusual to UN etiquette, everyone in the General Assembly hall broke into great applause!
While everyone spoke of humanitarian refugee crisis, nuclear disarmament, President Santos could announce a positive accomplishment no other country could claim. In a time of global strife, wars and conflict, we all could learn much from this man who negotiated to bring peace to his country. There is no surprise he has been chosen as the 2016 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize Award.
