MOSCOW, October 9 (RIA Novosti) - Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev congratulated President Barack Obama on his Nobel Peace Prize award on Friday, and welcomed the U.S. leader's positive impact on global affairs.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the award earlier in the day.
"I congratulate you on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. I am convinced that it is the right decision, which significantly reinforces our family of Nobel laureates," Gorbachev said in a letter to Obama published on the Gorbachev Foundation website.
"Your efforts have helped to bring about a significant change in the international climate. I feel close affinity to your vision of the global world and of relations among nations. Implementing it will require strong will, statesmanship and mastery of communication. It will also require support from Americans and from men and women of good will throughout the world," Gorbachev said.
In 1990, Gorbachev was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his "leading role in the peace process which today characterizes important parts of the international community."
At the time Gorbachev had led the Soviet Union for five years, overseeing far-reaching reforms and playing a pivotal role in ending communist rule in Eastern Europe. In contrast, Obama has been in office for over eight months.
The prize will be awarded in Oslo on December 10.
