The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is rewarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for its patient diplomatic work and its finely polished technical competence, writes Kristian Berg Harpviken in an op. ed. in the Norwegian daily Dagbladet the day after the announcement. In Harpviken’s customary Nobel Peace Prize speculations, Malala Yousafzai was his top candidate. The prize to the OPCW is slightly dull, but also very important. The award should strengthen the OPCW in its challenging work in Syria and open up for necessary reforms within the organization itself. Ultimately, the prize is also an acknowledgement of the merits of a shift away from military force towards seeking solutions through diplomatic means, as we have seen recently in Syria.

The op-ed is available in English here.