hold your breath..Tony Blair..
The EastWest Institute has presented their Statesman of the Decade award to Tony Blair in recognition of his ‘values-based leadership in international affairs.’ at an awards dinner at London’s Guildhall yesterday.
This is what they had to say:
“In a world in which it is often easier politically in the short-term to turn away from problems outside our borders, you have continually shown leadership, long-term vision and a refusal to accept the unfairness of the international status quo. You have worked tirelessly to rally the world community against injustice. You have unfailingly put concern for those most in need, whether they suffer from oppression or poverty, at the heart of your decisions.
For your deep belief that Europe and America share the same open and democratic values and that the world is better when the two work together, we honour you. We recognise, too, how you have fought to ensure the countries of Eastern Europe were welcomed into an outwards-looking European Union- and to build a stronger, more effective United Nations.
We salute you in particular for:
* Your championing of the Northern Ireland peace process
* Your determination that the world community would not stand by and watch ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia
* The UK’s intervention to end the savage civil war in Sierra Leone
* Your leadership in building an international response to September 11 and helping Afghanistan towards democracy
* Your commitment to ending tyranny in Iraq and helping the Iraqi people on the path to a peaceful and democratic future
* Your personal drive to push the problems of Africa to the top of the international agenda”
Who are the EastWest Institute? Based in New York,
“An independent, not-for-profit, European-American institution working to address the most dangerous fault lines of the 21st Century and to help build fair, prosperous and peaceful civil societies in those areas. Since 1981, we operate long-term projects that create trust and understanding and seek to reduce tensions from Eurasia to the trans-Atlantic region using our unique network of private and public sector leaders in more than 40 nations. Our initial mission was devoted to reducing the hostilities of the Cold War”
will have to look this lot up in depth. you can read tony’s acceptance speech here…
www.randomperspective.com is where this lovely picture came from
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