The 78-year-old former American president was honored for his pursuit of peace, health and human rights that began with the 1978 Camp David accords between Israel and Egypt that, but for a formality, would have won him the prize 24 years ago.

"It is with a deep sense of gratitude that I accept this prize," Carter said. "I am grateful to my wife Rosalynn, to my colleagues at the Carter Center and to the many others who continue to seek an end to violence and suffering throughout the world."

Carter accepted his prize in a world unnerved by the threat of terrorism, and uneasy that a new war in Iraq may erupt if it fails to obey U.N. Security Council resolutions demanding it prove it has no weapons of mass destruction.

"Instead of entering a millennium of peace, the world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place. The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect," he said.

Carter, a Democrat, has repeatedly urged President Bush to avoid a war in Iraq by working through the United Nations, and to support weapons inspections.

In the solemn ceremony, with music and flowers, Carter accepted a Nobel gold medal and diploma. The prize also includes a $1 million cash prize.

The Nobel prizes, first awarded in 1901, were created by Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel in his will and are always presented on Dec. 10, the anniversary of his death in 1896.

The peace prize is awarded in Oslo, while prizes in economics, medicine, physics, chemistry and literature are presented in Sweden.

(People's Daily December 11, 2002)