Blair, Bush Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George W. Bush have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, the NTB news agency reported on Monday. The populist Norwegian deputy Tom Nesvik, from the right-wing Progress Party (FRP), has put forward the two candidacies to mark their efforts to combat terror and promote peace. The FRP has a long history of campaigning against immigration,
notably from Muslim countries, and has been accused of whipping up xenophobia.

2002.02.05

British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George W. Bush have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, the NTB news agency reported on Monday.

The populist Norwegian deputy Tom Nesvik, from the right-wing Progress Party, has put forward the two candidacies to mark their efforts to combat terror and promote peace, said NTB.

The FRP has a long history of campaigning against immigration, notably from Muslim countries, and has been accused of whipping up xenophobia.

Tradition dictates that the Nobel Institute never reveals the names of the candidates, which have to be submitted before February 1.

However, those entitled to nominate for the prize — including past laureates, members of parliament and cabinet ministers from around the world and university professors — are allowed to disclose the names they have submitted.

Bush’s candidacy was already touted by several Norwegian accademics in the days after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, but they insisted he should only be given the
prize if he refrained from launching military reprisals.

NTB said the Salvation Army, a regular nominee but never a winner, has again been put forward for the award.

The winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, which consists of a gold medal, a diploma and a cheque worth around 10 million Swedish kronor (just under a million dollars), will be announced in mid-October.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the United Nations won the award in 2001.

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