French President Nicolas Sarkozy will be honored by two Jewish-related organizations in New York.
The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity on Monday will recognize Sarkozy with its annual Humanitarian Award. On Tuesday, Sarkozy will receive the 2008 World Statesman Award from the interfaith Appeal of Conscience Foundation.
A news release from the Wiesel foundation cited Sarkozy’s global efforts to support war-torn countries, determination to improve U.S.-French relations and consistent support of Israel.
“President Sarkozy is a humanitarian with deep concern for those in need and has contributed greatly to impoverished countries,” Wiesel said. “The president’s compassion and sincerity in these efforts is admirable.”
Previous recipients include First Lady Laura Bush, then-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, King Juan Carlos of Spain, President George H.W. Bush, then-French First Lady Danielle Mitterand and, most recently, Oprah Winfrey in 2007.
At the Appeal of Conscience Foundation event, the organization’s president and founder, Rabbi Arthur Schneier, will present the award to Sarkozy. Henry Kissinger, the former U.S. secretary of state, will introduce the French leader, who will be joined by his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.
