(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
- This week came your new book Nobel's Will where you claim that most peace prizes have been awarded in violation of Alfred Nobel's will. He wrote his will in 1895. Is it not necessary for the Nobel Committee to base its decision on an extended concept of peace, and recognizes that there are other ways to work for peace than to end the military and build an international legal order?
- There are many things that are useful and important for the cause of peace, and one can work with an expanded concept of peace in all possible ways, but the Nobel Committee can not do that. They are legally obliged to follow the Nobel will. What is wrong is that the idea of disarmament that was behind this award and was in Alfred Nobel's will has been removed.
- What is the reason why the Peace Prize, in your opinion, is abused and awarded to individuals and organizations that do not comply with Alfred Nobel's wishes?
- Nobel did not create a peace prize, but a prize for working for peace in certain ways and in certain areas – against militarism and armaments. He emphasizes that the prize should go to a peace activist, so this was a great chance for the peace movement. But when in 1948 it was left to the parties in the Storting to appoint the members of the Nobel Committee, and the parties rewarded their own people with a seat on the committee, the prize was "stolen" by a political majority in the Storting who agreed on security policy. NATO supporters took the prize that actually belonged to their opponents. In this way, the broad political majority in security policy after 1945 has managed to reverse the price so that it no longer collides with their policy. It's an abuse.
- You emphasize that it is a legal question you decide on – ie how a will is followed up – but is not this also a political post?
- In my research, I have acted as a lawyer, but coincidentally the result also coincides with the political work I have been doing for many years.
- Do you believe that the Storting and the Nobel Committee will change their practice in the wake of your pointing out that they have legal obligations in the follow-up to the Nobel will?
- I have informed both the Nobel Committee and the Storting's nomination committee, and can not believe or hope other than that it will lead to the country's legislators taking Norwegian law seriously. It must also be obvious that the committee must follow its obligations. I will be disappointed if they have not taken my legal input seriously during the selection of this year's winner.
- In your book, you strongly criticize the Nobel Committee and claim that hardly any of the members have the necessary peace background. Who should sit on the committee?
- The balance of power between the parties in the Storting is irrelevant. The members should be both peace-friendly politicians and leaders of the peace movement. Relevant persons may be Ingeborg Breines, Jan Egeland, Ingrid Fiskaa, Jostein Gaarder and Sverre Lodgaard.
- Is this a post for your own candidacy for the Nobel Committee?
- No, you're crazy. This is not about me.
- You have nominated a number of people for the Nobel Peace Prize. Why have these people earned the Peace Prize?
For the past 18 years, I have nominated the Israeli whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu, who has made a huge personal sacrifice in the fight against nuclear weapons by telling the world about Israel's nuclear program. This year I have nominated a number of people so that the committee will have plenty to choose from. One of them is the American international lawyer Richard Falk, who has done significant work to create a legal basis for an international legal order.
- Among the last five years' award winners, only Mohamed ElBaradei thinks you are in line with Nobel's wishes. What's wrong with Al Gore, Muhammed Yunus, Shirin Ebadi and Wangari Maathai?
- This is not an award for the environment, or an award to be given for humanitarian reasons. These four, and many others, are completely on the side of the Nobel's vision. A distinction must be made between committee prizes and Nobel Prizes. Many of the winners are used today to shed light on the prize and Norway. Nobel's vision was to create a better world, not to help Norwegian business and industry get out into the world.
