WORTHY AWARD

by RAY FLEMING
EXCEPT in Washington there will be general satisfaction at the choice of the International Atomic Energy Authority and its chief, Mohamed ElBaradei, for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize. Until he began to be seen in 2002/03 in the company of Hans Blix, the UN's chief weapons inspector in Iraq, ElBaradei and his organisation were among the least known of UN organisations. However, he has increasingly come to public attention during the recent and still ongoing delicate negotiations to prevent North Korea and Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The citation of the Nobel Prize could not have been clearer: “At a time that the threat of nuclear arms is increasing it must be met through the broadest possible international co-operation. This principle finds its clearest expression today in the work of the IAEA and its director-general...IAEA's work is of incalculable importance.” The Nobel Peace Prize Committee has a difficult task. This year no fewer than 199 nominations for the prize were received and the difficulty of comparing one with another must be considerable. For instance, to take the laureates of the past four years, how is it possible to choose between ElBaradei and the IAEA and last year's Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan unvironmental campaigner, or between Jimmy Carter, the former US President and tireless worker for peace through his Foundation, and Shurin Ebadi, the Iranian human rights lawyer? The answer may be that the Committee is influenced to some extent by the relevance of the nominations under consideration to the pressure of international events. The inadequacy of the extant non-proliferation nuclear weapons treaties, about which Mr ElBaradei has been complaining, and the independent line being taken by North Korea and Iran, may have persuaded the Committe that their endorsement of the IAEA would be timely. Prime Minister Blair and President Chirac, meeting in Paris, expressed their satisfaction at the recognition of the IAEA and its director-general by the Nobel Peace Committee. There has been no word from Washington, as yet. The Bush administration is not a fan and has been trying, unsuccessfully, to stop ELBaradei from getting a third term in his job; the Egyptian's advocacy of a new non-proliferation treaty and his strong belief in the importance of his Agency's independence have not always found favour with the White House.