Athens, Greece –
U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) and a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement upon hearing that President Barack Obama had been awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.
“I congratulate President Obama on receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Such a high honor represents international support for a world leader to pursue human rights concerns and advocate for peace around the globe. This award is a testament to the power of diplomacy and it serves as a reminder that the light of cooperation can be rekindled through open dialogue and a willingness to concentrate on the values shared by different peoples rather than our differences.
“Climate change is perhaps the best example of what the Nobel Committee described as President Obama’s recognition of ‘global responsibility for global challenges.’ As I meet with parliamentarians from across Europe today on this issue, it is clear that President Obama’s elevation of the environment to the highest levels of diplomacy has helped to solidify a shared understanding that no nation can escape the impact of climate change. We must work together toward a viable solution for all.”
Senator Cardin is leading a bipartisan Congressional delegation to an international energy security and climate change meeting in Athens, Greece. Earlier today, he delivered
a keynote address on the importance of international cooperation on energy policy and place a particular focus on the security and human rights dimensions of the energy debate. More than 200 parliamentarians from 49 OSCE countries are participating in this Fall Meeting of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly.
