The announcement of Barack Obama as winner of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize , raised a few eyebrows and Jagland had to clarify this choice on several occasions . The Nobel Committee points to the fact that it has to execute the will of Alfred Nobel , in accordance with the following text in his will : " ... The whole of my remaining realizable estate shall be dealt with in the following way ... the capital , invested in safe securities by my executors , shall constitute a fund , the interest on which shall be annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who , during the '' ' preceding year ' '' , shall have conferred the greatest benefit to mankind ... and one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations , for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses .... The prizes for physics and chemistry shall be awarded by the Swedish Academy of Sciences ; that for physiological or medical work by the Caroline Institute in Stockholm ; that for literature by the Academy in Stockholm , and that for champions of peace by a committee of five persons to be elected by the Norwegian Storting . It is my express wish that in awarding the prizes no consideration whatever shall be given to the nationality of the candidates , but that the most worthy shall receive the prize , whether he be a Scandinavian or not ... " The justification for award to Barack Obama was anchored in the work he had done to restart the START agreements with Russia and for promotion of dialogue with the Muslim world
2009 Nobel Peace Prize
2009 Nobel Peace Prize
Thorbjørn Jagland