Nobel Committee Releases Statement on Öcalan's ''Candidacy''
The Nobel Peace Prize Committee released a statement saying that they were unable to confirm whether a candidate is admitted for the prize.
The statement came after Firat News Agency's article claiming that Goran Movement member Heval Kwestani nominated Öcalan based on Öcalan's 2013 Newroz message and TIME Magazine's presenting Öcalan as one of the 100 most influential people.
"Somebody called us from Istanbul and asked why Abdullah Öcalan was nominated. We told that person that we are not in a position to inform whether or not any person or entitity has been nominated for the prize. Everybody is free to nominate a candidate for the prize, but we can never inform them whether their suggestion has been admitted to the nomination list," a Nobel Peace Prize Committee member told Dogan News Agency.
On July 18, 2013, Kwêstani applied to the Norwegian Nobel Committee for 2014 Nobel Peace Prize for Öcalan.
Kwêstanî said that his appliance was accepted a few days ago. Kwêstanî mentioned Öcalan's political studies and his construction of PKK in his appliance.
“Nelson Mandela participated in the resolution process in South Africa. Like Mandela, Abdullah Öcalan plays a part in Kurdish resolution process with democratic and peaceful ways,” said Kwêstani and drew attention the similarity between Mandela and Öcalan.
Kwêstanî said that awarding Abdullah Öcalan with Nobel Peace Prize will create a great impact on the development of peace and democracy in the region.
Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by Norwegian Nobel Committee to the person, people or organizations who struggle for the brotherhood of nations and people, decreasing the numbers of guns and armies and organizing peace congress according to the testament of Alfred Nobel.
Nobel Prize has been given 94 times from 1901 to 2013. Until now 100 people and 25 organizations were awarded. 28 of the prizes were shared between the candidates.
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013. (AS/BD/BM)
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