The Atlantic Council Honors IMF Chief Christine Lagarde, Senator John Kerry, and the Late Prime Minister Rafik Hariri

NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Atlantic Council, the preeminent, nonpartisan institution devoted to promoting transatlantic cooperation and international security, was pleased to honor three outstanding leaders at its Second Annual Global Citizen Awards Dinner on September 21, 2011 in New York:

• International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde for her strong leadership during the European debt crisis and her visionary role in fostering a global economic recovery and economic transition and prosperity in the Middle East and North Africa;

• US Senator John Kerry, who, as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been a champion for constructive US international leadership and diplomacy, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa;

• The late Prime Minister Rafik Hariri of Lebanon, whose vision for a prosperous Middle East continues to shape the Arab Awakening, as well as the work of the Atlantic Council's new Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East. Global business leader Bahaa Hariri accepted the award on behalf of his father.

Celebrating its 50th year, the Council presented the awards to the three honorees in recognition of their extraordinary personal accomplishments in advancing the ideals of security and prosperity through international partnerships.

"The Global Citizen Award recognizes visionaries for their commitments to leadership, strengthening transatlantic ties and improving the global community," said Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe. "Each of this year's award recipients has displayed a sense of entrepreneurialism and innovation in tackling some of the greatest challenges of the 21st century."

In accepting the awards, Mr. Hariri, Senator Kerry and Ms. Lagarde each highlighted the importance of maintaining strong transatlantic alliances in an increasingly interdependent economic environment, and cited the importance of work by institutions like the Atlantic Council in convening thoughtful, robust conversations around questions key to global stability.

In her remarks, Ms. Lagarde stated, "It is when we move beyond party lines that we can achieve a great deal. In doing so, we need hope – and for hope, we need the Atlantic Council to convene these conversations."

Senator Kerry said, "The work [of] the Atlantic Council ... has kept the U.S.-European relationship front and center in Washington's discussions about foreign policy... and has provided thoughtful, creative, nonpartisan input on tough issues. We need that in our politics now more than at any moment that I can remember."

Dr. Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum and the recipient of the inaugural Global Citizen Award in 2010, presented Ms. Lagarde's award.  Senator Chuck Hagel, Chairman of the Atlantic Council, presented Senator Kerry's award and General Brent Scowcroft, Chairman of the Atlantic Council's International Advisory Board, presented Rafik Hariri's award to Bahaa Hariri.

About The Atlantic Council

The Atlantic Council promotes constructive US leadership and engagement in international affairs based on the central role of the Atlantic community in meeting the international challenges of the 21st century. The Council embodies a nonpartisan network of leaders who aim to bring ideas to power and to give power to ideas by stimulating dialogue and discussion about critical international issues, conducting educational and exchange programs for successor generations, and building broad constituencies to support constructive US leadership and policies. For more information, visit www.acus.org.

Contact:
Stephanie Roland
Atlantic Council
[email protected]
202-292-5171

SOURCE The Atlantic Council