Untitled Document
Andrei Sakharov, 1975:
Speech accepting his Nobel Peace Prize
December 4, 2007
Speech delivered at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, 1975 Peace, Progress and Human Rights Excerpt from the speech for the Nobel Peace Prize, awarded in 1975 The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 1975 Nobel Peace Prize to Andrei Sakharov.
The personal and courageous effort of Sakharov for the cause of peace among men strongly inspires all those who are sincerely concerned with promoting peace. Without compromise and without respite, Sakharov has struggled not only against the abuses of power and violations of human dignity in all its forms, but he has also fought with equal energy for an ideal state based on the principle of justice for all.
In a persuasive style, Sakharov emphasized that individual human rights remain the only sure foundation of an authentic and durable system of international cooperation. Thus, despite very difficult conditions, he has successfully reinforced the respect for the values that all true friends of peace defend with tenacity.
Andrei Dmitrievich Sakharov addressed his message of peace and justice to all the peoples of the world. For him, a world peace can only be lasting if it is based on the fundamental principle of respect for the rights of the individual living in society. This respect has found its expression in a number of international declarations, for example the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights. Sakharov has asked the National Authorities of each country to ensure the respect of the commitments made by signing these Declarations.
In the various agreements signed this year by 35 States at the Helsinki Conference on Security, it has again been emphasized that the respect for human dignity is an obligation recognized by the States themselves. In their Agreement, the Contracting Parties acknowledge that the respect for Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms is an important factor for the cause of peace, justice and well-being, essential elements to ensure the development of fraternal relations and cooperation, not only between the nations signing these Agreements but between all the countries of the world.
In more energetic terms than many others have done, Andrei Sakharov warned us of the danger of neglecting these points, and has taken the forefront of the efforts aimed at transforming into a living reality the ideals expressed in this paragraph of the Helsinki Accords.
Andrei Sakharov firmly believes in human brotherhood, in sincere coexistence, as the only paths of salvation for Humanity. It was precisely through the path of fraternity among all peoples, based on truth and sincerity, that Alfred Nobel hoped to succeed in creating a better future for all humanity. For Sakharov, when States violate the fundamental principles of Human Rights, they undermine the efforts made to promote trust between all nations, beyond the borders that separate them.
Sakharov warned us about the hidden dangers of a false détente based on dreams and illusions. As a nuclear physicist, with his particular insight and a keen sense of his responsibilities, he was able to express with force the dangers inherent in the arms race between States. His aspirations are demilitarization, the democratization of society in all countries, and a rapid pace of social progress.
Sakharov's love for truth and his deep belief in the inviolability of the human being, his struggle against violence and brutality, his courageous defense of the freedom of thought, his generous and deeply humanitarian convictions, have made him the voice of the conscience of humanity, which the world so urgently needs today.
Peace, Progress and Human Rights - these three objectives are inextricably linked, and it is impossible to achieve one of them if the others are ignored. This idea is the fundamental theme of my speech.
I feel a deep gratitude for having been chosen to receive this award of such great significance, the Nobel Peace Prize, and thus have the opportunity to address you today. I am also particularly grateful for the Committee's statement, which emphasized that the defense of Human Rights is the sure foundation of an authentic and durable international cooperation. This idea is of great importance to me; I am convinced that international trust, mutual understanding, disarmament and international security are inconceivable in the absence of an open society with freedom of information, freedom of conscience, the right to publish, the right to travel and to choose the country in which one wishes to live. I am also convinced that freedom of conscience, as well as other civil rights, constitute both the basis of scientific progress and the guarantee against the misuse of it to harm humanity, as well as the basis of economic and social progress, which in turn is a political guarantee enabling an effective defense of social rights. I would also like to defend the thesis of the original and decisive importance of civil and political rights in shaping the destiny of humanity. This view differs fundamentally from the current Marxist theory, as well as from technocratic opinions, according to which only material factors and economic and social conditions are decisive. (Of course, by stating this, I do not intend to deny the importance of the material well-being of the population.) I would like to express all these theses in my lecture and in particular address a number of specific issues concerning the violation of Human Rights. The solution of these problems is imperative and we have only a very short time.
This is why I have titled my speech "Peace. Progress and Human Rights." Of course, I deliberately take up here the theme of my article published in 1968, "Reflections on Progress, Peaceful Coexistence and Intellectual Freedom," which has close links, both in content and implications, with my current concerns.
It is very important to emphasize that humanity, at the threshold of the second half of the 20th century, has entered a particularly decisive and critical period in its history.
The existence of nuclear missiles capable, in principle, of annihilating the entire human race, constitutes the greatest danger threatening our time. Thanks to economic, industrial and scientific progress, so-called "conventional" weapons have become incomparably more dangerous, not to mention the instruments of war that are biological and chemical weapons.
It is evident that industrial and technological progress represents the most important factor to overcome poverty...