BRUSSELS

The Lithuanian Parliament has received a request from Israel's parliament urging lawmakers to nominate US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, according to public broadcaster LRT.

But parliament's speaker Juozas Olekas declined to sign, it said.

The letter, initiated by the speakers of the Knesset and US House of Representatives, praised Trump as a "defender of peace" committed to dialogue, diplomacy and global leadership, and credits him with contributing to the resolution of eight conflicts.

Trump has repeatedly stated that he believes he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for the “eight and a quarter wars,” which he said he stopped.

The Parliament Chancellery told LRT on Monday that the appeal was received Jan. 22 and forwarded to the Speaker's office.

Olekas, however, decided not to sign the document and indicated that a final decision has not been made.

"No decision on signing has been taken. We will consult with other regional parliamentarians, and then we will decide. A Lithuanian decision will be made after consulting our closest partners," said Olekas.

In contrast, Latvian Parliament Speaker Daiga Mierinia signed the appeal, prompting criticism at home for what opponents described as a unilateral move.

Hungary's Parliament Speaker Laszlo Kover also signed.

Last year's laureate, Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado, said she gifted her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump at the White House on Jan. 16.

Organizers of the Nobel Prize had said a Peace Prize cannot be withdrawn, transferred or shared once it has been announced.