On behalf of the Ukrainian Committee for nominating Viktor Yushchenko for
the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize we invite to you to show academic and human solidarity
with the young Ukrainian democracy and lend individual or institutional support
to our initiative by sending your letter of nomination to the Nobel Peace Prize
Committee before February 1, 2005.
The events of the previous year were pivotal to the development of democracy
in Ukraine, which in turn is of great import for Europe and the world -at-large
. The phenomenon of the Ukrainian Maidan (Independence Square), which was the
heart of the Orange Revolution , proposes for the twenty-first century a new
format and philosophy of peaceful and lawful solution s for acute political
and social crises. In a contemporary form but hearkening back to a spirit foundational
for Europe, the social expression manifested on Independence Square in the
Ukrainian capital Kyiv re-proposes for European democracy models of ancient
Greek popular rule and the dynamic of the Roman Forum. Independence Square
saw the peaceful reconciliation of vehemently opposing political forces and
a uniting of different sections of society irrespective of nationality, political
views and religious confession not seen in Eastern or Western Europe in recent
time. The world witnessed the peaceful overthrow of an anti-democratic, oligarchic
and criminal regime affected exclusively through democratic means. Since the
fall of communism the Orange Revolution constitutes the most striking expression
of European democratic values in the former Soviet Union. What happened in
Ukraine demonstrates once again that neither the burden of history nor geographical
location can in themselves deprive people of the right to free democratic life.
Consequently the events in Ukraine resounded far and wide, in Romania, Kyrgyzstan
and Kazakhstan. This is the achievement of the Ukrainian Revolution whose leader
is Viktor Yushchenko.
Viktor Yushchenko whose father bore the
scars of imprisonment in Auschwitz has shown to us all, the citizens of the
world, how to address political and social crises. His solution is one without
bloodshed, violence or hatred, age-old scourges that continue to plague humanity
. He has suggested a path to peace through a new culture of civil and human
dialogue with a simple and profound summons: “Peace be with you!”
Viktor Yushchenko has gathered together
not only Ukrainian society but also public figures from all over the world,
intellectuals from many countries as well as countless rank-and-file citizens
that stood up for democracy and lent their assistance to Ukraine. Tens of thousands
of international observers, probably for the first time in history in such
impressive numbers, came to monitor Ukrainian presidential elections sacrificing
their Christmas vacations in a gesture of strong moral human solidarity. The
Ukrainian public multiplied the expressions of solidarity within its own country
by launching large-scale initiatives of joint celebrations involving people
from different parts of the country at Old-Calendar Christmas as well as by
sending books parcels from West to East for St Nicholas' Day and by the people's
massive participation in the “ We Won't Be Divided!” campaign.
In authoritarian societies fidelity to democratic values comes at a heavy
price: persecution, terror, and the threat of death. Viktor Yushchenko fell
prey to a vicious assassination attempt perpetrated through
the use of rare laboratory-produced poison. In spite of this, owing to his
unrelenting courage and self-sacrifice Yushchenko demonstrated
that the human quest for freedom cannot be stopped and that the people will
not be deprived of their right to free elections.
In the course of the last century criminal regimes ruling Ukraine have been
responsible for the death of millions of its citizens. Historians now refer
to this time in history as to the harvest of sorrow. In recent years endeavours
to reanimate the dictatorial rule in Ukraine have been conspicuous. Harsh censorship
in the media and economic oppression of the common people on the part of the
notorious oligarchic clans has created tremendous tension in Ukrainian society.
In the end we found ourselves one step short of a true calamity. In such perilous
circumstances Viktor Yushchenko emerged as
a compelling champion of peace and social justice whose actions served to prevent
the use of force by the authorities.
Yushchenko's personal stand as well as his appeal to all Ukrainians to "Get
up from our knees " have renewed the sense of dignity in the Ukrainian
nation, given courage to political leaders , and affected a radical liberalization
of the national media.
At the dawn of the third millennium, millions of Ukrainians gathered in the
Independence Square of the capital Kyiv united around Viktor Yushchenko. They embraced
a truly novel civic phenomenon, a revolution of hearts and minds. This revolution
knows of no geo-political boundaries and has human dignity at its centre, the
thirst of people for free democratic life.
For these reasons we are consider Viktor Yushchenko to be
our ambassador of peace and a worthy candidate
the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize.
We ask you to lend support to our initiative and forward your letters to the
following address:
Dr. Geir Lundestad
The Norwegian Nobel Institute
The Norwegian Nobel Committee,
Drammensveien 19,
NO-0255 Oslo Norway
