LWF Welcomes Nobel Peace Prize Award to US President Barack Obama

Noko Cites Efforts to Restore Broken Relationships and Build Bridges Across Faiths

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) welcomes the award of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to United States President Barack Hussein Obama, a person who has inspired hope and demonstrated deep understanding of global leadership amid unprecedented crises worldwide.

Obama "has helped generate a tidal wave of hope around the world. He has acknowledged that the fundamental aspirations of nations and peoples are shared aspirations, and has affirmed the importance of international cooperation in achieving them," said LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, in a statement issued today.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Obama as this year's Nobel laureate today, citing recognition for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." In the LWF statement, Noko said Obama had begun "to restore broken relationships, including across faith boundaries."

He noted these are significant contributions to progress toward peace and security, and important foundations for dealing with the global crises - humanitarian, environmental, economic and political.

Noko cited Obama's resolve especially in addressing some of the fundamental obstacles to the search for peace in the Holy Land. "His leadership in this matter deserves the active support of all people of good will, for the sake of both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, and for the sake of peace with justice in the land of Christ's birth."

The announcement of the peace prize winner coincides today with the 20th anniversary of the peaceful revolution in the former German Democratic Republic, which culminated on 9 October 1989 in peaceful demonstrations after prayers in Leipzig's churches.

Noko said these events demonstrated "the power of ordinary people coming together to achieve freedom through non-violent means, bearing candles against guns and the threat of violence, and the importance of the church's role in that context."

The LWF general secretary expressed his prayer that the Nobel prize award to a political leader of "the new generation will serve to inspire a whole new generation of 'bridge-builders' for understanding and reconciliation between people and nations."

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