In awarding this year’s Peace Prize, the Nobel committee made a point of underscoring that one of the great dangers in today’s world is the threat of nuclear arms proliferation. The prize to Mohamed ElBaradei and the International Atomic Energy Agency should strengthen IAEA’s hand as it confronts Iran and North Korea about their nuclear intentions.
ElBaradei said he was surprised to win the award and learned of it as he watched the Nobel ceremony on live television.
“The award sends a very strong message: Keep doing what you are doing,” he said. “Overall my colleagues and I will go to sleep tonight with a good feeling of satisfaction that finally our effort has been fully recognized.”
The 63-year-old Egyptian lawyer was recently appointed to a third term as head of the IAEA over the objections of U.S. officials who faulted his hesitation in declaring Iran in violation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
Shortly before the award was announced, the IAEA’s board of governors declared Iran to be in non-compliance with treaty obligations not to engage in nuclear weapons development activities. Iran’s new president has practically shouted his nation’s nuclear ambitions, and the difficulty of confronting this danger is all too real. The Nobel award gives the IAEA valuable credibility in undertaking the effort.
ElBaradei said the IAEA’s aim was “to make sure we have a world free from nuclear weapons … where terrorists do not get access to nuclear weapons.”
The award will be viewed by some as a message to Washington that the United States should have listened more to the IAEA before invading Iraq.
Former chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix said the IAEA is best-equipped among global institutions to deal with nuclear situations, and ElBaradei himself said, “We continue to believe that in all of our activities, we have to be impartial, objective and work with integrity.”
Despite past differences, U.S. officials were all smiles Friday, with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice offering congratulations and White House spokesman Scott McClellan embracing the award as recognition of the importance of stopping the spread of nuclear weapons.
“This is a message to all the people of the world: Do what you can to get rid of nuclear weapons. The people’s power is formidable,” said Nobel committee chairman Ole Danbolt Mjoes.
The Nobel honor will fortify the IAEA and its leader as they tackle tough tests in the days and years ahead.
