LISBON, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on Thursday congratulated Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres for winning the prestigious Charlemagne Prize in Germany.

In a message published on the website of the presidency, the president said Antonio Guterres is "the first Portuguese winner" with this prize, which has been annually awarded since 1950 to personalities who have contributed to the unity of the European continent.

"Europe is going through a decisive historic moment, internally and in the world context," he said, adding that Guterres is a symbol "of the importance of the European model of a pluralistic and solidarity society, committed to multilateral and values, principles and objectives of the future at the service of people".

He praised Guterres as "an example and a demonstration of what Portugal has the best."

Guterres received the Charlemagne Prize at a ceremony in the German city of Aachen on Thursday.

This award was announced in January by the respective committee, which praised the former Portuguese prime minister and former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as "an outstanding defender of the European model of society, of pluralism, tolerance and dialogue, of open and solidarity societies, strengthening and consolidating multilateral cooperation."

Guterres became the secretary general of the United Nations on Jan. 1, 2017. Enditem

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