Year
after year, Committee for Nobel Peace Prize has been consistent in springing
surprises and has been able to, well, sensationalize the award, otherwise meant
for promoting peace, harmony, mutual cooperation and understanding in the
world. The award drew flak on many previous occasions for debatable choices. Mr. Barack Obama, Mr. Yasser Arafat had
more than their fair share of contribution in promoting crisis and violence in
world order. Even Mr. Al Gore’s selection was ridden with criticism. Now the
new announcement has left many gulping and dumbfounded. That too coming from
country which herself refused to join European Union twice.
Creation of
EU has been credited
by many to bring stability and peace in a war torn continent, with bitter
rivals France and Germany compelled to trot a common path, lodged in the same
cart. "The union and its forerunners have for over six decades contributed
to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in
Europe," says Nobel Committee president Thorbjoern Jagland, Who is also
seen as the torchbearer in Norway for joining the cause of EU. You cannot
entirely discredit EU of the results (checkered though) it has been able to
produce through united efforts, bringing as many as 27 countries on board and
creating common market. But it should take more than that to bag a Nobel Peace
citation. The historical contentions run deep. Add to it the present deepening economic
gulf. The award appears at a time, when EU is buckling under threats of
disintegration owing to economic gulf between the member countries, wealthy
north reluctant to help the financial crisis ridden south. It is like burying old
differences just to create new ones. And when economic unrest is causing people
to take to streets, civic unrest cannot be far behind. Reports of riots in
Greece, Spain and other countries reeling under failure to get past ‘depression
iceberg’, also point a finger towards EU’s qualification for the coveted prize.
The union is still groping for any legitimate solution it can offer to its
member countries. It has also been criticized for its bureaucratic ways of
functioning.
Mr.
Jagland Further justifies the selection stating that France and Germany had
fought three wars in the past, which is unthinkable today. So much for sparing
the world from third world war!!
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