New York, Sep 26 (DPA) Hours before her first address to the United Nations as Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel was honoured as World Statesman by a US foundation that works for religious freedom in New York.
The award by the Appeal for Conscience Foundation was given in part for her past interventions on the side of Israel. Merkel said she was grateful for the honour and that she would continue to battle the threat of right-wing extremism in Germany.
Merkel received the award from former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger, who has met Merkel regularly since her time leading Germany’s opposition. Kissinger praised the German chancellor for bringing “seriousness” back into trans-Atlantic relations.
The Appeal for Conscience Foundation was founded in 1965. Past winners of the World Statesman prize include the former president of South Korea Kim Dae Jung as well as Canada’s Jean Chretien and Spain’s Jose Maria Aznar.