NEW YORK: The India’s Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh has been honoured with the 2010 ‘World Statesman Award’ by a US-based interfaith coalition for his commitment to democracy, freedom, human rights and peace in the service of humanity.

77-year-old Dr Singh was awarded in absentia by the Appeal of Conscience Foundation and the Indian Ambassador to the US, Mr Meera Shankar, accepted the award on behalf of the Prime Minister at a glittering ceremony here.
In a recorded speech, Dr Singh said: “I accept this award on behalf of people who have lived in this sacred land for a millennia and have lived together.”
“India has been guided since ancient times by the fundamental belief that while spiritual expression takes many forms and the journey for universal truth takes many paths, we are all united by our highest values, ideals and our inherent humanism,” he said in the acceptance speech.
On the occasion, the US Under Secretary of State, Mr William Burns, conveying his greetings, said “there could truly be no better choice, and no better model of what integrity and statesmanship are all about on the world stage.”
“A man of even temperament and remarkable modesty and humility, Prime Minister Singh has demonstrated clear vision and steely determination as a leader, bringing great benefit to India and to the rest of the world,” he said.
Delivering the commendation address, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger applauded Singh for his leadership, which has been instrumental in the economic transformation underway in India.
He described Dr Singh as a statesman with vision, persistence and integrity.
Emphasising on the close convergence of Indo-US interest in Asia including Afghanistan, he called for regional countries, particularly India, to play a greater role in pursuing ways to bring peace, stability and development in Afghanistan.
Ambassador Shankar, while accepting the award on behalf of Dr Singh, thanked Ms Rabbi Schneier, President of the Foundation, and said “his extraordinary mission addresses one of the most important challenges for humanity and one that more than at any other time in human history is critical for the future peace and prosperity of our world which has become far more integrated and interdependent.”
“In honouring Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, the Appeal of Conscience Foundation has honoured a leader of extraordinary statesmanship, vision and intellect who is guiding the destiny of the world’s largest democracy.”
The Foundation is an interfaith coalition of business and religious leaders which promotes peace, tolerance and ethnic conflict resolution.