ASTANA – Jordan’s King Abdullah II became on Wednesday the first recipient of an international peace prize created by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to recognize those who have a significant impact on the advancement of global goodwill and security.

“As the country that said ‘no’ to nuclear weapons and as the country that shut down its nuclear test site, given the authority of King Abdullah in global policy and his contribution to many issues (related to world peace), the commission has decided to present him the first award,” Nazarbayev said during the ceremony.

The Kazakh leader presented the Nazarbayev Prize for a Nuclear Weapons-Free World and Global Security to King Abdullah II during a ceremony at the Akorda presidential palace in Astana.

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