THE NORWEGIAN Nobel Committee yesterday surprised President Barack Obama’s admirers and detractors around the world by awarding him the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009.
In its citation, the committee praised Mr Obama’s “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples” and attributed “special importance to Obama’s vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.”
The committee credited Mr Obama with having created “a new climate in international politics” which gives “a central position” to multilateral diplomacy and emphasises the role of the United Nations and other international institutions.
Mr Obama was woken shortly before 6am by a call from his spokesman, who told him the news. Five hours later, in the White House Rose Garden, the US leader said he was “surprised and deeply humbled”.
“Let me be clear: I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments,” Mr Obama said, “but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations.
“To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who’ve been honoured by this prize – men and women who’ve inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.”
Mr Obama said the prize should be used “as a means to give momentum to a set of causes” and accepted it “as a call to action ... to confront the common challenges of the 21st century”.
Congratulations poured in from around the world, including from Taoiseach Brian Cowen, with the Afghan Taliban and US Republicans alone in criticising the award.
Mr Obama was chosen from a field of 205 nominees, including 172 individuals and 33 organisations. The final deadline for nominations was February 1st, less than two weeks after the president took office.