The winners of the main prize "Statesman Humanist of the 20th Century" Croatian President Stjepan Mesic and former presidents of the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Macedonia, Vaclav Havel, Milan Kucan and Kiro Gligorov respectively, did not attend the ceremony and will receive the awards at some other event.
Recognitions were also received by Montenegrin politicians Milop Djukanovic and Svetozar Marovic. Djukanovic received a recognition for his contribution to the democratic process of Montenegro's gaining independence, while Marovic was declared an honorary ambassador of peace.
Recognitions to the two politicians stirred polemic discussions in Montenegro. A group of intellectuals, university professors, writers, journalists and some NGOs protested against awarding Djukanovic and marovic with recognitions because of their responsibility for events during the 1990s wars in the former Yugoslavia.
The IHL also awarded several "education collectives" for their contribution to humanism and tolerance, including a high school from the southern Adriatic city of Dubrovnik.