Egypt's First Lady Mrs Suzanne Mubarak called for understanding among peoples and cultures, affirming that the contribution of women to peace efforts represented a decisive factor in enhancing human security.

"Their contribution to peace through local development is a determining factor in enhancing human security," Mrs Mubarak said on the occasion of receiving the "Orange Seed" award.

"Human security, development and the preservation of human dignity are closely interlinked - they are as important at the family level as they are for the nation as a whole," she added.

In her speech, Mrs Mubarak said: "It is both a pleasure and an honour to receive this prestigious award from the Standing Committee for the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership for Local and Regional Authorities.

"It is no secret that I have devoted a large part of my life to the promotion of education and culture, of openness to the other and of cultural exchanges," she said.

"Let us draw from our long and textured history which provides us with the tools we require for reinforcing a rich Euro-Mediterranean culture of peace, prosperity and creativity - a concept that I am deeply committed to," she added.

In her speech, Egypt's First Lady said: "I believe that promoting a better understanding between peoples and cultures means embarking on a journey of discovery of the other."

"Exploring the intertwined history of our peoples will promote tolerance, dialogue and understanding - enabling us to know ourselves in a new way. We will then be able to build on our common Mediterranean heritage and values towards a better future for our children."

"To that end, I have pushed for the creation of cultural institutions like the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a unique centre of excellence for learning and inter-cultural dialogue," she said.

"Patient nurturing of programmes of outreach to children and youth, promoting reading for all, affordable books and a real partnership between community action, private initiative and public authority, are today bearing fruit in Egypt," she added.

Mrs Mubarak said: "The drive for peace and for women's empowerment found expression in the creation of the Suzanne Mubarak Women's International Peace Movement."

"The movement has launched an important array of initiatives and produced results on the ground in giving an opportunity for silent voices to be heard and in engaging youth with people-to-people programmes and the promotion of the culture of peace."

"As part of our endeavour to peace and development, we have launched an Institute for Peace Studies, the first of its kind in the Arab world. It is the academic arm of the movement, the place where research is undertaken, and case studies are produced and analysed".