NEW YORK -- Prime Minister Jean Chrétien jetted into New York last night to receive an award as Statesman of the Year from the East-West Institute, a high-powered group that seeks to build democracy, prevent wars and fete global leaders.
Accepting the award, Mr. Chrétien focused on Africa, which he recently visited, as the next challenge for the developed world, calling it an entire continent that had been "sideswiped" by Cold War rivalries.
"We must not and cannot ignore our obligations to the rest of the world," Mr. Chrétien said, adding that the current global situation is "one that is at least as complicated as that posed by the need to rebuild Europe and deal with East-West conflict post-1945."
The Prime Minister received a standing ovation after his speech from about half the audience.
But some people were wondering why he was given the award at all.
"What is he getting it for?" Jack Granatstein, one of Canada's most respected historians, asked in an interview yesterday. "Frankly, I'm hard-pressed to think of anything he's done that would merit this kind of award."
Despite Canada's proximity to the United States, Mr. Chrétien also remains something of a political unknown with many Americans.
"We're giving your Prime Minister, what's his name, a big prize?" said Blair McDonald, who was walking outside of Cipriani's, the swank eatery where the black-tie-dinner award ceremony was being held. "What did he do, exactly? I myself would give it to Tony Blair."
A source said the reason Mr. Chrétien received the award is primarily that he is the longest-serving leader of the Group of Eight major industrialized nations.
In its press release, the East-West Institute credits Mr. Chrétien with allowing Russia to take part in the Halifax economic summit of the Group of Seven, "culminating in [Russia] joining the G8." What is missing from that description, however, is that most experts saw the inclusion of Russia in the G8 as inevitable after the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union.
During last night's event, Mr. Chrétien was told that Canada and the United States are the best of friends, at times almost indistinguishable.
"Well, you're Americans too, sort of," said institute president John Mroz.
The East-West Institute has some major Canadian donors, some with close ties to Mr. Chrétien's government. Paul Desmarais of Power Corp. is listed as one of the donors, along with Jacques Lamarre of SNC Lavelin Group and Thomas d'Aquino of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives. Other sponsors of the dinner included the Bank of Nova Scotia and GE Canada; the dinner committee included Galen Weston.
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