NEWS RELEASES
GRAHAM CONGRATULATES PM FOR BEING NAMED EASTWEST INSTITUTE'S STATESMAN OF THE YEAR
April 16, 2002 (3:00 p.m. EDT) No. 33
GRAHAM CONGRATULATES PM FOR BEING NAMED
EASTWEST INSTITUTE'S STATESMAN OF THE YEAR
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham today congratulated Prime Minister Jean Chrétien for being honoured as the EastWest Institute's Statesman
of the Year.
The Prime Minister was selected by the Institute in recognition of his role as dean of the G8, where he has worked to broaden that institution's
agenda, notably by the inclusion of Russia. He is also being recognized for his work in pioneering the G8's effort to engage forward-thinking
governments in Africa.
"We as Canadians can all be proud of the role Canada has played in helping secure the greater integration of Russia and other emerging
European economies into global institutions," said Minister Graham. "I believe we have a moral obligation to extend a hand of welcome to those
states that take the necessary, but difficult steps toward democracy and a market economy. I congratulate the Prime Minister on being
recognized in this manner and applaud his hard work."
At the G8 Summit in Naples, the Prime Minister proposed that the role of Russia in the summit process be increased and that the G8 support its
accession to the World Trade Organization and membership in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Russia participated as an equal in
the discussion of global political issues for the first time at the Halifax Summit in 1995 and was introduced as a full partner to the G8 in 1997.
Founded in 1981, the EastWest Institute is an independent, non-profit organization that seeks to enhance stability and help prevent conflicts,
while building democracy, free enterprise and prosperity throughout Central and Eastern Europe and Russia. Since 1992, the Institute's annual
dinner has recognized the accomplishments of statesmen, corporate leaders and organizations. Past honorees include former U.S. President
George H.W. Bush and President Vaclav Havel of the Czech Republic.
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