News Item, , Berlin/Gütersloh: Liz Mohn receives the Vernon A. Walters Award

Atlantik-Brücke (Atlantic Bridge) recognizes her strong commitment to the cause of transatlantic relations

The award was named for Vernon A. Walters (1917–2002), who served as the United States ambassador to Germany from 1989 to 1991 and as ambassador to the United Nations from 1985 to 1989. As a member of President Reagan's cabinet, he had previously visited more than 100 countries. Last year the Vernon A. Walters Award was given to Dr. Jürgen Grossmann, currently CEO of RWE AG. Other award winners include Dr. Dieter Zetsche (Daimler AG, 2006), Dr. Michael Otto (Otto Group, 2005), Wolfgang Mayrhuber (Lufthansa AG, 2004), Dr. Bernhard Pischetsrieder (Volkswagen AG, 2002) and Dr. Manfred Schneider (Bayer AG, 2000).

Atlantik-Brücke was founded in 1952 as a private, nonpartisan and nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a bridge between postwar Germany and the United States. Today its membership includes over 500 leaders in the spheres of politics, business, the media and science. Its activities center on fostering better understanding between the United States and Germany.

The Bertelsmann Stiftung works to promote the common good. It is actively involved in the fields of education, business and social affairs, health and international understanding and seeks to encourage peaceful interactions among cultures. For many years the Bertelsmann Stiftung has worked to promote the transatlantic partnership by organizing numerous projects and forums for dialogue. Established by Reinhard Mohn in 1977, the foundation holds a majority of capital shares in the Bertelsmann AG company. The Bertelsmann Stiftung is an operating foundation and independent of the company as well as nonpartisan.