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For Immediate Release
Contact: Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020; or David Zupan, (541) 484-9167

Nobel Peace Laureate: Obama Choice "Disappointing"

WASHINGTON

MAIREAD MAGUIRE
Mairead Maguire, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in l976, said today: "I
am very disappointed to hear that the Nobel Committee has decided that
the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack
Obama. They say this is for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen
international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples, and yet he
continues the policy of militarism and occupation of Afghanistan,
instead of dialogue and negotiations with all parties to the conflict.
...

"Furthermore, I believe the Nobel Committee has not met the
conditions of Alfred Nobel's will where he stipulates it is to be
awarded to those who work for an end to militarism and war, and for
disarmament. This is not the first time the Nobel Peace Committee in
Oslo has ignored the will of Alfred Nobel and acted against the spirit
of what the Nobel Peace Prize is all about.

"Giving this award to the leader of the most militarized country
in the world, which has taken the human family against its will to war,
will be rightly seen by many people around the world as a reward for
his country's aggression and domination."
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