Winners of the 2009 Awards: Mona Eltahawy, Carole Kerbage
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Through the name of Samir Kassir, the European Commission wished to pay tribute to all journalists who have died, for no other crime than that of doing their job. Above all, the Samir Kassir Award is here to forcefully remind us that the freedom of speech, opinion and press can bear no exception. They are the fundamental pillars of any State of Law, and that is why respecting these principles is at the heart of all agreements that the European Union has signed with its partner countries throughout the region.

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As an Arab and European intellectual, Samir also remains a symbol of common values that are shared on both sides of the Mediterranean; these values that are at the root of our partnership and that this Award named after him embodies. The diversity of topics addressed by candidates and the diversity of nationalities represented in the jury are illustrations of these common values.

The Samir Kassir Award has experienced an increasing success since its creation in 2006, with more applications every year, coming from the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Gulf.

This year, more than 150 journalists submitted their articles to the prestigious jury, a 65% rise compared to last year, and a record six times higher than the Award's first edition.

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Both winners were chosen almost unanimously by the jury, after a rigorous selection process. As you will see, their articles tackle very serious issues: universal issues that journalists have a duty to address.

Patrick Laurent
Head of the Delegation of the European
Commission to Lebanon