Obama deserves Nobel Peace Prize, says Hungarian academician

The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced earlier today that it had granted the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to US President Obama for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."

The committee praised Obama's creation of "a new climate in international politics", and said he had returned multilateral diplomacy and institutions like the United Nations to the centre of the world stage.
   
Simai noted that the new president had stressed well before his election that his administration would effect major changes in US foreign policy.
   
The academician highlighted three aspects of the new US approach to foreign policy. 
   
Firstly, the previous US administrations, including Clinton's, assessed the role of the United Nations and other international organisations in the light of their usefulness for the US. In turn, Obama has attributed key importance to settling some global issues through joint efforts, Simai said.
   
Secondly, Obama has changed the US attitude to the Islamic world. His visit to Egypt marked an opening towards Islam, particularly to its non-militant wing, he said.
   
Thirdly, Obama initiated the elimination of injustices committed in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp during the Bush administration, Simai said.