Atomic Nobel

Mohamed ElBaradei and the organization he heads, the International Atomic Energy Agency, have been awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize for their work to stem and manage the growing threat of the proliferation of nuclear arms.

At a time when disarmament efforts appear deadlocked, when there is a danger that nuclear arms will spread both to states and to terrorist groups, and when nuclear power again appears to be playing an increasingly significant role, IAEA's work is of incalculable importance.

In his will, Alfred Nobel wrote that the Peace Prize should, among other criteria, be awarded to whoever had done most for the "abolition or reduction of standing armies".

In its application of this criterion in recent decades, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has concentrated on the struggle to diminish the significance of nuclear arms in international politics, with a view to their abolition.

That the world has achieved little in this respect makes active opposition to nuclear arms all the more important today.