Zeenews Bureau
Oslo: US President Barack Obama on Thursday arrived in Oslo with First Lady Michelle to accept his Nobel Peace Prize.
Obama is scheduled to give a speech today as a Nobel laureate.
The couple were to spend the night in Oslo before returning on Friday to the United States.
White House director of speechwriting Jon Favreau said that Obama would speak solemnly about the odd coincidence of accepting the revered prize a week after ordering 30,000 troops to Afghanistan in a major war escalation.
"The President is receiving a peace prize as the commander in chief of a nation that is in two wars," said Favreau, one of two White House speechwriters working on the text with Obama.
Earlier on Wednesday, Obama said he is not in the same category of other recipients of this coveted award like Nelson Mandela from South Africa and Mother Teresa of India.
Hours before Obama boarded the Air Force One, the White House said, "The President understands and again will also recognise that he doesn't belong in the same discussion as Mandela and Mother Teresa."
"But I think what the President is proud of is the steps that this administration has taken to reengage the world; that through that re-engagement we see some of that re-engagement is to bring increased peace and stability to this big planet," White House spokesman, Robert Gibbs said.
He is proud that the committee recognised that this nation has once again re-emerged and engaging the world in greater pursuits, Gibbs said in response to a question.
Oslo on alert
Obama is due on Thursday to accept his controversial Nobel Peace Prize amid Norway's biggest ever police security operation.
Two military choppers circled above the hotel where Obama will stay while others flew over the city centre as part of an operation costing the government around 92 million kroner (EUR 10.9 million, USD 16 million) -- more than 10 times the prize money awarded to the Peace Prize laureate.
Barricades were placed along the sidewalks of Oslo's main avenues, between 2,000 and 2,500 police officers have been mobilised, the Schengen-member country reinstated border controls and anti-aircraft missiles were deployed near the airport and around Oslo to ensure the president's security.
(With Agencies’ inputs)
First Published: Thursday, December 10, 2009, 14:27