Former British prime minister Tony Blair on Monday was awarded the Liberty Medal by former US president Bill Clinton's National Constitution Centre in Philadelphia for his commitment to conflict resolution. Blair called the award he received from Clinton "a tremendous privilege and honour," especially since Philadelphia, where the centre is based, was the cradle of US liberty and democracy and the US constitution.
The National Constitution Centre has praised Blair, who served as prime minister from 1997 to 2007, for his efforts in Northern Ireland and Kosovo, and for continuing his work as a Middle East envoy since leaving office. The ex-premier takes his place alongside a host of well-known figures who have previously won the prize, including former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and ex-UN secretary general Kofi Annan.