Bush to bestow highest honour upon Blair
George Bush to award Tony Blair with presidential medal of freedom, highest US civil honour
Monday, 05, Jan 2009 07:48
George Bush will award Tony Blair with the highest honour possible for a civilian at a White House ceremony next week, it has been revealed.
Mr Blair, who served as UK prime minister for ten years from 1997, was one of the outgoing US president's closest allies during his two terms.
Now envoy for the Middle East quartet, Mr Blair will receive the presidential medal of freedom in the White House's East Room on January 13th.
It will be one of the last acts of Mr Bush's administration, which officially ends a week later when Barack Obama is inaugurated.
Joining Mr Blair in being honoured are Colombian president Alvaro Uribe and former Australian premier John Howard.
"The president is honouring these leaders for their work to improve the lives of their citizens and for their efforts to promote democracy, human rights and peace abroad," said White House spokesperson Dana Perino.
"All three leaders have been staunch allies of the United States, particularly in combating terrorism. And their efforts to bring hope and freedom to people around the globe have made their nations, America and the world community a safer and more secure world."
The medal of freedom has been awarded to former United States presidents, sometimes posthumously, Pope John Paul II and Mother Theresa in its 47-year history.