Mikhail Gorbachev
On June 25th 1997 in Frankfurt's St. Paul's Church, the Planetary Consciousness World Leadership Prize was awarded to Mikhail Gorbachev in the framework of a major event. In his presentation speech, former German President and new Honorary Member of The Club of Budapest Richard von Weizsäcker, lauded Gorbachev as "one of the great and rare personalities who has moved and advanced people in their time." With his unique willpower and unparalleled courage, the former master of the Kremlin reformed his land, de-ideologized international relations, and helped the world achieve a decisive shift in consciousness.
Gorbachev was honoured above all for his having introduced new thinking in politics, and for his personal growth to world citizenship. He represents the goals of the Club of Budapest in an outstanding manner. We are proud to welcome Mikhail Gorbachev as a Honorary Member of the Club.
Following the introductory address of Club of Budapest President Professor Ervin Laszlo, the roster of speakers included Frankfurt's Mayor Petra Roth, Mikhael Gorbachev and the other laureates, former German President Richard von Weizsäcker, and Club of Budapest Honorary Members Sir Peter Ustinov, Riane Eisler and Vigdis Finnbogadóttir. The event in the famous St Paul's Church in Frankfurt, organized by Club of Budapest Vice-president Hon.-Prof. Dr. Thomas Druyen, was an outstanding success. Thanks to the exceptional response of the public and the entirely positive reporting of the printed and the electronic media, the occasion marked a milestone in the development of The Club of Budapest. With over a thousand guests and eminent personalities from politics, business and culture, the Club of Budapest established itself in the consciousness of the public.