The Nobel Nonsense
By Rahmatillo Ahmedov
16 October, 2012
Countercurrents.org
British MP George Galloway who is one of the most outspoken political figures in the UK wrote in his twitter message that one should not be surprised if the next year’s Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee itself. This may sound funny but at these days it is quite possible given the fact that those great minds who decide who or what organization deserves it have in recent years demonstrated several jokes with their selection of laureates. As one of my colleagues wrote on his facebook message ‘Alfred Nobel turns over in his grave’ after hearing that the EU was granted with prize for its contribution to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe for over six decades. I was surprised myself at the beginning, mostly because it honored an organization but not a person, as I was not well informed that it can actually do so.
Apparently it gave its medals to various UN divisions, humanitarian organizations, international institutions that are focused on prevention of war, etc. And this time it gave to the European Union. This has summoned indefinite reaction across the world, including those within the EU. In particular Czech President Vaclav Klaus said that the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the European Union was a “tragic mistake”. He added ‘I really thought it was a hoax, a joke. I couldn't imagine even in a dream that someone could be serious about it”. But those who made the decision, on the contrary believe that this was an advance payment for EU to remain united and tackle all existing problems at home and abroad. One can remember that the same motif has been pursued when U.S. President Barack Obama was given a Nobel Peace Prize for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. At that moment the hearsay was that it was given to him for his peace efforts during his upcoming presidency. In the meantime one can hardly say that he has fulfilled the committee’s expectation ever since. His term is just about to finish and United State is stuck in the war in Afghanistan while facing serious economic problems at home.
Despite the fact he has managed to ‘free the world’ from notorious terror leaders as Osama Bin Ladin and other key militant figures, U.S. has engaged in various over/covert operations across the Middle East during the Obama tenure. These operations included political and military support of states which were in conflict with one another in the region and also those whom U.S. approved politically in the UN Security Council. Likewise the EU was heavily involved in supporting uprising in the Middle East, with great role played by France-one of the chief countries that has put the ground to the EU initiate over six decades ago. And here whether it deserves the award or not, one shall put the accent on EU peace efforts throughout these very ‘six decades’. It is not hard to recall its involvement in dozens of conflicts across the globe. Its recent commitment to the conflict in Balkans and Afghanistan as well as provision of weapons to rebels in Libya and Syria are fair enough to disqualify EU from even being a nominee for such award.
In the same spirit, the Nobel Committee has paradoxically awarded high-profile personalities who have involved in conflict promotion rather than its prevention. For instance Henry Kissinger received the prize for the 1973 Paris agreement intended to bring about a cease-fire in the Vietnam war and a withdrawal of the American forces. In the same year when Paris agreement was made, one can recall tragic events that have taken place in Chile which led to the U.S. backed coup resulting in the killing of dozens of people, including Salvador Allende-democratically elected President. Yet, it awarded Zionist leader Menachem Begin for the Camp David Agreement, which brought about a negotiated peace between Egypt and Israel and also the latest Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev for his leading role in the peace process which today characterizes important parts of the international community. If the first was involved in the war and expansion of settlement activities in Palestine, the former has fought a cold war, ruled the Soviet with traditional iron fist and brought the Soviet Union to its collapse. The Nobel committee has also thought Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, Yaseer Arafat as valuable contributors to peace and honored them for a political act which called for great courage on both sides. As some people believe, courage is a half way through, but in this particular case it was premature to make a bid on courage because the war in Palestine is still underway. Arafat and Rabin are dead long ago, but Israeli-Palestinian conflict is continued under the leadership of Peres.
But what the Nobel Committee has been openly ignoring for the last few decades is consideration of some crucial political figures for this award. For instance such leaders as Ernesto Guevara, Fidel Castro or the same Salvador Allende, who struggled against imperialism and fought for justice and peace in Latin America has never been remembered by selection committee. Ostensibly, these figures were old enemies of the West which does not seem to forgive even in the new era. But what about Hugo Chaves who prevented Venezuela from civil war following coup against him in the 1993? As The Guardian wrote, ‘he played a critical role in bringing the Colombian government and the Farc guerrilla group together for peace talks that could end one of Latin America's longest-running civil wars’. Or what about the same George Galloway, who have been actively involved in collecting humanitarian aid, advocating justice across the world and throwing sound criticism on the atrocities committed by states and leaders in the Middle East and Africa. This will probably not happen if the Nobel Committee continues to follow this ridiculous path and as long as resentful white collars from 60s remain as decision makers in this rather popular award committee.
Rahmatillo Ahmedov – a freelance journalist. Author of publications dedicated to Afghanistan, the Middle East, Cyber-security and Soft Power.
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