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October 9th, 2009 at 7:28 am

Barack Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize 2009 (Video)

U.S. President Barack Obama is the Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2009. Video of the Oct. 9 announcement, which has come as a surprise, is below. Updated with video and transcript of Obama’s speech in response.

The Nobel Committee, in Oslo, Norway, named him the 108th recipient of the prize for, according to a statement, “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.”

Additionally, the statement reads: “The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations. Thanks to Obama’s initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climactic challenges the world is facing.” [Source: Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize]

As the New York Times notes, the announcement came as a surprise with journalists, inquiring of committee chairman Thorbjorn Jagland, as to why he was named the Nobel Laureate rather than other candidates who include human rights activists in such countries as China and Afghanistan. Noting the Obama administration’s involvement in the war in Afghanistan, he said:

“[It] concerns us all. We do hope an improvement in the international climate could help resolve that.”

Additionally, why so early in his presidency was he the award recipient. To which the chairman responded:

We are not awarding the prize for what may happen in the future but for what he has done in the previous year. We would hope this will enhance what he is trying to do.”

Source: Barack Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize

He is the fourth U.S. president to win the Nobel; previous recipients have been Jimmy Carter in 2002 long after he had left office; Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt while they were still in office. [Source: Factbox - U.S. presidents who won Nobel Peace Prize]

Video of the Barack Obama Nobel Peace Prize announcement is below. Additionally see the video of the Obama speech on Oct. 9.

In his speech he said: “Let me be clear, I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations…”I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many transformative figures that have been honored by this prize.”

Source: Obama Says He’s ‘Surprised and Humbled’ by Nobel Prize

Here is the full transcript of the speech: President Obama’s Nobel Reaction

Both videos are below. Check back for additional updates.