USA: Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel denounces Iranian President Ahmadinejad's comments on Israel at an awards ceremony in New York

German Chancellor Angela Merkel denounces the Iranian President's controversial comments on Israel at an award ceremony in her honor. She also stresses the importance of multi-lateral efforts in fighting new problems caused by globalization. German Chancellor Angela Merkel denounced Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's anti-Israel statements and stressed the importance of working together while picking up an award at a ceremony in New York on Tuesday (September 25). The 2007 World Statesmen Award Tribute was attended by religious leaders of all faiths and dignitaries, like former U.S. Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger. The award is given out each year by the Appeal of Conscience Foundation (ACF), whose goal is to promote religious freedom and human rights to people of all faith around the world. "We enthusiastically bestow the World Statesman Award upon a leader of faith and courage, wisdom and heart," said Rabbi Arthur Schneier, president and founder of ACF. Kissinger also took to the podium and reminisced about his long history with Germany in the time of the Cold War. He said that at the time "none of us thought that a lady from East Germany would emerge, become head of a major West German political party." In her acceptance speech, Merkel stressed the importance of fighting anti-semitism and she chastised Ahmadinejad for his viewpoint on the state of Israel. "I would like at this time to restate my beliefs that humanity is not to be degraded and the Iranian President's rhetoric regarding Israel is totally unacceptable. One cannot stress this enough," said Merkel. Merkel also said that globalization had spawned new problems for the world and that it was important for countries to work together in finding solutions to them. She ended her speech by saying that it was through multi-national relations that she was able to fulfill her dreams. "I have to admit, as Henry Kissinger brought up earlier, that it was beyond my dreams that I would one day be standing here to accept this award in New York and even more, that I would one day be chancellor of Germany." Merkel is in New York all week for the 62nd session of the General Assembly at the United Nations.

ITN Source | September 26, 2007

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