CLUB DE MADRID X Anniversary Gala Dinner

NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 9, 2011 -- CLUB DE MADRID X Anniversary Gala Dinner on Wednesday November 9, 2011 at The New York Public Library, 455 Fifth Avenue (at 40th Street), New York, NY 10016-0122 (212) 340-0863. The Club de Madrid is turning ten this year. A very special occasion that required not one, but two very special events: a Conference on Digital Technologies for 21st Century Democracy, and a X Anniversary Gala Dinner in honor of Club de Madrid Honorary Chair, President Bill Clinton. At the Conference some of the world’s most experienced and inspirational political and business leaders, policy makers and scholars will be taking an in-depth look at the opportunities and challenges posed by the increasingly complex relationships between governments, citizens and communication technologies – particularly as we aim for greater liberties and democracies that deliver. Former United States President Bill Clinton received the Club de Madrid’s Democratic Leadership Award on Wednesday, November 9th. This happened during the Gala Diner that the Club de Madrid, sponsored by Telefónica, organized in New York as a closing to the Club de Madrid’s X Anniversary celebrations. The prize recognizes a leader’s firm commitment to the consolidation of democratic values, human rights and good governance, and the promotion of sustainable, socio-economic development through democratic means, all of which represent the core values of the Club de Madrid. The President of the Club de Madrid and former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Wim Kok, highlighted Clinton as “an example of a single life dedicated to public service. Beyond the great labour as president of the United States, it has been in past ten years when his leadership and democratic commitment to global issues such as poverty, climate change, the unequal access to health care and economic opportunity worldwide have become more evident.” The Club de Madrid is the world’s largest forum of former Presidents and Prime Ministers, composed of 80 Members from 56 countries united to promote democratic governance and give support in situations of crisis and post-crisis. Last April 6th the Club de Madrid’s Board of Directors approved the presentation of this edition of the award to its Honorary President. Bill Clinton is the second world leader awarded with this prize, which was presented in its inaugural edition in 2008 to the historical democratic referent Nelson Mandela. At the Gala Dinner on November 9th, held in the heart of Manhattan, in the New York Public Library, leading Members of the Club de Madrid participated, all of them former Presidents and Prime Ministers, including Kim Campbell (Prime Minister of Canada, 1993), Joaquim Chissano (President of Mozambique, 1986-2005), Vicente Fox (President of Mexico, 2000-2006), Lee Hong-Koo (Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, 1994-1995), Lionel Jospin (Prime Minister of France, 1997-2002),John Kufuor (President of Ghana, 2001-2009), Chandrika Kumaratunga (President of Sri Lanka, 1994-2005), Ricardo Lagos (President of Chile, 2000-2006), Mary Robinson (President of Ireland, 1990-1997) and Jennifer Mary Shipley (Prime Minister of New Zealand, 1997-1999), among others. PHOTO CREDIT: Copyright © 2011 Manhattan Society.com by Gregory Partanio |tel:718.614.7740 | e-mail: PrinceGregory@manhattansociety.com