2009 Nobel Peace Prize "As President Hugo Chávez said at the United Nations, (the Obama administration) is a government that has raised expectations and hopes in many people in the world, amid great contradictions." In Africa, the news of the Obama Nobel Peace Prize was positively received. Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki issued a statement saying that the prize was a "recognition of the contribution [Obama is] making for the well being of humanity." In South Africa, President Jacob Zuma used "Ubuntu"—the Zulu term for "the importance of community"—in his congratulatory message, saying that the U.S. president's "leadership reflects the true spirit of Ubuntu because
2008 Nobel Peace Prize 2008 Nobel Peace Prize The 2008 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to President of Finland (1994–2000) Martti Ahtisaari "for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts". The 2008 Nobel Peace Prize laureate was announced on the press conference in Oslo, Norway on October 10, 2008. The committee's decision was heavily criticized in Serbia, because of Ahtisaari's role in the Kosovo status process (the Government of Serbia rejects Ahtisaari's plan because it would allegedly guarantee the "de facto" independence of Kosovo). On the other hand, committee's decision was praised by Albanians living