The reason for the criticism is an interview with Lundestad Aftenposten, where he says that former heads of state and foreign ministers should not sit as members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
– There must be a minimum requirement to speak English
– Getting the world to understand that the committee is independent, is a difficult task in itself. We uphill battle to get the world to understand what it means. Bandwagon gets too heavy to go if it is the former heads of state and foreign ministers in it, says Lundestad interview.
Completely unacceptable
Thorbjorn Jagland, who currently is chairman of the committee, has a past as both state and foreign minister. Today he is Secretary General of the Council of Europe, but has refused to comment on the statement from Lundestad. It does however Jagland chief of staff Bjørn Magnus Berge on Facebook.
“I think it is completely unacceptable that the Secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, four days before the big award ceremony in Oslo, provides a broad interview to Aftenposten where he states that ‘former heads of state and foreign ministers should not sit on the committee,’ “writes Berge.
Arrogant and confident
” It can not be interpreted otherwise than that he would rather see that the current leader of the committee; former foreign minister and prime minister Thorbjorn Jagland, should not have been a member of the committee (not to speak of directed it). “
” Lundestad, which I really have always liked lirer then by an arrogant and confident lesson that ‘it can be said much about the Parliament has appointed members of the committee, but I do not think the job has been particularly impressive.’ This is not a committee secretary worthy, “he continues.
Unacceptable violations
” This interview is therefore an unacceptable infringement, which unfortunately questioning role understanding and judgment of the Nobel Committee secretary over the last 25 years, “concludes Berge.
– He has the full right to express themselves, said Geir Lundestad a comment for VG.
Nobel Institute incoming director Olav Njølstad parts largely Lundestad views on the committee’s composition.
– That there is a need to highlight the distinction between the committee and the Norwegian authorities even clearer than today, obviously, he says to VG. (© NTB)
– Lundestad is careful to name some, but it’s easy to imagine who
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