"Daddy, you won the Nobel Peace Prize"

101_6_SIG

Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Here is a list of reactions from around the world after US President Barack Obama was awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize.

"Obama has shifted the tone towards dialogue in a very short time. There is still much left to do, but a window of possibilities has been opened" - Angela Merkel, German Chancellor.

"His commitment to work through the United Nations gives the world's people fresh hope and fresh prospects" - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

"We hope that he will be able to achieve peace in the Middle East (...) and establish an independent Palestinian state" - Palestinian peace negotiator Saeb Erekat

"He has inspired many people. I look forward to working with him to advance peace and to give hope to the peoples of our region who deserve to live in peace, security and dignity" - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

"A magnificent endorsement for the first African American president in history" - South Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.

"He has given hope to many people in America and in Africa. He showed them that they can conquer many odds, regardless of race. He is an inspiration to us in Africa, considering Obama's background and the way he succeeded in American politics" - John Masuku, Zimbabwean journalist and writer of our weekly Letter From Zimbabwe column on our African site.

"To award this prize now is premature at best" - A spokesman for Hamas

"I hope that we, as fellow recipients of the prize who frequently get together to promote world peace efforts, can help him in achieving his goals" - Adolfo Pérez Esquivel (Argentina), winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1980.

"So soon? This is too soon. He has not yet made a real input" - Lech Walesa (Poland), winner of the 1983 Nobel Peace Prize.

"The Nobel Peace Prize? He should have won the 'Nobel Prize for escalating violence and killing civilians'" - Taleban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.

"It's humbling for us as a family and we share in Barack's honour. We congratulate him" - Said Obama, the President's uncle, speaking from the Kenyan village of Kogelo.

"Daddy, you won the Nobel Peace Prize. And it's Bo's birthday" - Mailia Obama, the President's daughter, minutes after he had received the news. Bo is the First Family's dog, celebrating its first birthday today (Friday).

Quotes compiled by Radio Netherlands Worldwide and Reuters.

Photo by ANP.

Bookmark/Search this post with:

Post new comment

Please be reminded all comments must be in English, short and to the point - guideline 250 words. Abusive and inappropriate comments will be removed.

Video highlights

Discussion

anonymous 15 October 2009 - 4:38pm

Majority of Nobel jury objected to Obama prize Oslo: Three of the five members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee had objections to the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to US President Barack Obama, the Norwegian tabloid Verdens Gang (VG) reported today. "VG has spoken to a number of sources who confirmed the impression that a majority of the Nobel committee, at first, had not decided to give the peace prize to Barack Obama," the newspaper said. In a surprise move last Friday, the Nobel committee attributed the Nobel Peace Prize to Obama less than nine months after he had taken office. The committee, appointed by the Norwegian parliament, honoured Obama for "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." "The committee was unanimous," its influential secretary Geir Lundestad told AFP on Friday. Source: PTI

Thomas - USA 12 October 2009 - 6:19am

While the Nobel Peace prize has an aura of prestigious World Recognition for "Majestic Deeds", in fact it's a political act by 5, that is, FIVE leftist Socialist Norwegian parliamentarians having beef with American power in the classic Euro-Socialist spirit of Anti-Americanism. Carter, Al Gore, Annan and now Obama all expressed their displeasure with America in various international forums to the delight of the Euro-Marxist crowd. A little America (and Israel bashing) all is needed to be adored by the Leftists and get the Nobel Peace prize....remember Araft?

David Berridge 10 October 2009 - 1:48am

This is an award for the best of intentions at the very least. The idea of an nuclear weapons free world is only but a utopian dream, yet Obama is credited with this through gulible discussions with the Russians, whose scientists are actively engaged in helping Iran reach the achievement of successfully testing a bomb themselves. Should this event come to pass, and other Middle East countries are scrambling to deveolp their own military nuclear capabilbilties, the Nobel Committee will certainly appear to have been "too quick on the trigger" on the Peace Prize for Obama. Such an idea to award a Nobel Prize to Obama should have followed a positive resolution to Iran's nuclear question in a conclusive, definitive, and transperant manner. The only immediate benefit of this award is the prize money, which will provide a micro stimulus to the American economy through charitable donations made of it by Obama.

aschera 9 October 2009 - 9:15pm

The fact is that he is a president at war not a president at pease. It undermines the reputation of the nobel peace price committee.

aschera 9 October 2009 - 9:13pm

John A. Figliozzi 9 October 2009 - 8:40pm

Much as Barack Obama's presidential campaign was aspirational in theme, I believe this award to be aspirational on the part of the Nobel prize committee. There is no doubt that the Obama presidency has awakened a hope in people of good will both in the U.S. and abroad. The tension--as always perhaps--is between aspirations and deeds. There are a myriad of forces being marshalled toward derailing the effort to achieve those aspirations, as there have been for millenia. Some are represented simply by despair at the monumental nature of the challenges, others by cynical attitudes spawned by disappointments stockpiled over time. But still others are motivated by much darker forces that are dangerous, destructive and, at their worst, even sinister. I believe this award was made as both an encouragement and a warning. The positive aspirations of peoples around the world have been stirred by this individual and the principles to which he has affirmatively laid claim. The timing of the award is meant to say, "You are on the right track. We understand the enormity of the task. We believe you have the ability to pursue it. We are behind you. Don't let us down." I fervently hope that the President perceives this as the message. From his initial response, it appears that he has. May this act be prologue for much greater deeds and accomplishments--on all our behalfs--in the years to come.

jasmin 9 October 2009 - 8:19pm

Nobel Prize to Obama, in advance? Means you write an abstract of a novel, and you get a Nobel for literature; you give a theory in a scientific research, you get a Nobel for science subjects!!! Wow!!! It is so easy now to get a Nobel prize!!!...We should try too..

me 11 October 2009 - 3:04pm

"In advance?", hey... I agree with you. but the rest of your comments must be for me!

101_6_SIG

Radio Netherlands Worldwide

SSO Login

Discussion

Post new comment

Please be reminded all comments must be in English, short and to the point - guideline 250 words. Abusive and inappropriate comments will be removed.

RNW Player

Latest news NEW

FUN

Radio programmes

Video highlights

RNW Africa on Facebook

Most popular today

Corporate

More from RNW

Key partners

101_6_SIG

Radio Netherlands Worldwide

SSO Login

"Daddy, you won the Nobel Peace Prize"

Related articles

Discussion

Post new comment Please be reminded all comments must be in English, short and to the point - guideline 250 words. Abusive and inappropriate comments will be removed.

RNW Player

Latest news NEW

FUN

Radio programmes

Video highlights

RNW Africa on Facebook

Most popular today

Corporate

More from RNW

Key partners

Post new comment

Please be reminded all comments must be in English, short and to the point - guideline 250 words. Abusive and inappropriate comments will be removed.