| A Peace Prize that commits |
 "To award the Nobel Peace Prize to U.S. President Barack Obama is a clear and important recognition of his peace initiatives, and to the foundation he has already laid for a new and more dialogue-oriented climate in the world. At the same time, this is an award that commits. It emphasizes the expectation of results, and I also hope that the Peace Prize will help strengthen his ability to reach his goals”, says president of the Oslo Center, Kjell Magne Bondevik.
"It is a bold decision to award the Peace Prize to Obama so early in his presidency, before he has achieved concrete results. There are great expectations to this prize. At the same time the award is a support for ambitious visions and key initiatives from the one person who perhaps can do the most for peaceful development in the world. It can also be understood as a salute to Obama's shift towards multilateralism and cooperation with the world", Bondevik says.
"Obama has shown courage and an ability to stand up for a new direction. He has demonstrated clear and responsible leadership that has been well received in most parts of the world. He has given the world a hope for a new international agenda. One should not underestimate the value of this. It deserves recognition and strong support", says Bondevik.
He underlines Obamas open hand to the Muslim world as an important contribution to reduce tensions, and to create a climate for dialogue and cooperation. In addition, he believes Obama's clear initiative for a nuclear free world will be crucial.
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| Former World Leaders Urge UN to Press Burma on Prisoner Releases |
| Wednesday, 03 December 2008 |
 The Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights and Freedom Now released a letter from 112 former Presidents and Prime Ministers from more than 50 nations to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urging him to personally travel to Burma before the end of the year to secure the release of the military junta’s 2.100 political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi. |
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| Aung San Suu Kyi made Honorary Member of Club of Madrid |
| Wednesday, 26 November 2008 |
| The Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights and Freedom Now released a letter from 112 former Presidents and Prime Ministers from more than 50 nations to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urging him to personally travel to Burma before the end of the year to secure the release of the military junta’s 2.100 political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi.In a time when the Burmese junta is once more cracking down on peaceful opposition by sentencing several dissidents to decade-long prison terms, Aung San Suu Kyi is made honorary member of Club of Madrid – an organisation of 70 former Presidents and Prime Ministers who are committed to advancing democracy, headed by Ricardo Lagos and Mary Robinson. |
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| Specifically the Foundation will strive to further the interests, influence and activities of the Oslo Center in the United States of America and elsewhere in the world by providing support for specific projects; engage Americans in the efforts for peace and humanity spearheaded by the Oslo Center; inform the media and public in general regarding the efforts by the Oslo Center; plan events in support of the aforementioned efforts; and identify funding sources, collect contributions and maintain funds in support of the project work undertaken by the two organizations.
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In the course of a long political life, I have become increasingly convinced that the most important challenge facing us today is to fight for the poor and the oppressed. That is why I established The Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights.