John
10-10-2009, 07:16 AM
The US President, who says resolving the Middle East conflict and reducing nuclear weapons are among his top priorities, won the prestigious international accolade for "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples".
At an unscheduled press conference at the White House, Mr Obama joked: "This was not what I expected to wake up to this morning".
He added: "To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures that have been honoured by this prize, that have inspired me and the entire world in their courageous pursuit of peace."
"I do not view it as recognition of my own accomplishments but rather as affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations."
The President said the award would be accepted as "a call to action" for all nations to confront the challenges of the 21st century.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Obama had inspired many people. But Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas prime minister in the Gaza Strip, said: "Unless real and deep-rooted change is made in American policy towards recognising the rights of the Palestinian people I would think such a prize would be useless."
Mr Obama said he would go to Oslo to collect the prize in person on December 10 and added that he would donate the $1.4 million (£880,000) prize money to charity.
At an unscheduled press conference at the White House, Mr Obama joked: "This was not what I expected to wake up to this morning".
He added: "To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures that have been honoured by this prize, that have inspired me and the entire world in their courageous pursuit of peace."
"I do not view it as recognition of my own accomplishments but rather as affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations."
The President said the award would be accepted as "a call to action" for all nations to confront the challenges of the 21st century.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Obama had inspired many people. But Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas prime minister in the Gaza Strip, said: "Unless real and deep-rooted change is made in American policy towards recognising the rights of the Palestinian people I would think such a prize would be useless."
Mr Obama said he would go to Oslo to collect the prize in person on December 10 and added that he would donate the $1.4 million (£880,000) prize money to charity.