STAVANGER, Norway, January 29 (Mark Lewis, Associated Press) - Two Norwegian politicians have jointly nominated former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden for the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, saying his disclosures of secret U.S. documents have contributed to making the world more peaceful.
Anyone can be nominated for the prestigious award, so the submission Wednesday by Socialist lawmakers Baard Vegard Solhjell, a former environment minister, and Snorre Valen just means Snowden will be one of scores of names that the Nobel committee will consider.
"We do not necessarily condone or support all of his disclosures," the two lawmakers said in their nomination letter. "We are, however, convinced that the public debate and changes in policy that have followed in the wake of Snowden's whistleblowing has contributed to a more stable and peaceful world order."
The five-member Nobel committee won't confirm who's been nominated. Saturday is the deadline for nominations from a range of people, including members of national parliaments and governments, university professors or previous laureates.
Valen agreed that the documents leaked by Snowden "have damaged the security interests of several nations." "But to have the debate, you have to be aware of what is going on," he told The Associated Press. The Nobel prize committee members can add their own candidates at their first meeting after Saturday's deadline.
The winner will be announced in October. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons won last year's Nobel Peace Prize.
