Friday 10 October 2008

Martti Ahtisaari's Peace Nobel Prize: Maybe not for Kosovo

Several news sources report that the Finnish ex-president and diplomat Martti Ahtisaari wins this year's Peace Nobel Prize.

The Nobel Prize Jury writes:
"for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts"
His last big project was to bring Serbia and Kosovo to an agreement - an effort that failed and led to today's situation of a partically recognised country in conditions that are "peacefull" only in the sense that there is no war.

This Nobel Price coincides with Wednesday's UN General Assembly decision to see whether Kosovo's status as an independent country is in conformity with international law and with the recognition of Kosovo by several former Yugoslav countries.

And without using Russian excuses for a wrong war, I would still point to the fact that the Kosovo situation has also eased the outbreak of the Russian-Georgian war by raising political and diplomatic confrontation in Europe and especially around other breakaway regions such as South Ossetia.

Therefore: Congratulations to Ahtisaari - but some doubts to the Jury.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

BBC film about the Nobel Prize. History, conditions, which rewards and much more in this remarkable movie!
http://tubedirect.net/index.php?q=Nobel-Prize-2008
Highly recommended!

Antal Dániel said...

I think Ahtisaari did everything to find a diplomatic solution where neither parties really wanted it. Although the status of Kosovo was not resolve, Kosovo's backers had made a precondition to recognition the adoption of the Ahtisaari-plan, which became part of the constitution. The provision may be very useful to prevent real civil war.

I am very surprised by the decision, but I think Ahtisaari well deserved it.

Francis Deblauwe said...

I tracked the Google-popularity of the rumored Noble Peace Prize nominees during the last 12 months. Interesting: Ahtisaari was anything but the most popular... See on my Word Face-Off blog.

Antal Dániel said...

Francis Deblauwe - It's a great chart indeed!