Press Release

No. 144/1998
Date: 16 October 1998

Norwegian premier congratulates Northern Ireland Nobel laureates

“I am very pleased that this year’s Nobel Peace Prize goes to John Hume and David Trimble”, Norway’s Prime Minister, Kjell Magne Bondevik, said in his first comment to the announcement that the leaders of the two major political parties in Northern Ireland have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

“These two politicians have been in the frontline in the efforts to secure this year’s historic Good Friday peace treaty in Northern Ireland”, Mr. Bondevik said. The Prime Minister today sent his congratulations to the two Nobel laureates.

“The Peace Prize is a well-deserved recognition of the significant efforts, the will and the personal courage shown by party leaders Hume and Trimble, in order to build mutual trust and to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Northern Ireland”, the Prime Minister said.

“I hope and believe that this year’s Nobel Peace Prize will contribute to consolidating the positive development, so that lasting peace can be achieved in Northern Ireland. The Prize is also a recognition to the people of Northern Ireland, who through their support for the peace treaty have expressed their wish to live in peace and tolerance, and to create a future together”, Mr. Bondevik said.

“This is also a great encouragement to the political leaders of Great Britain, Ireland and the USA, who have been strongly involved in the peace process, and who have made the much wanted peace treaty possible”, Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik said.