News
April 25, 1998
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His Majesty King Mihai I of Romania was officially nominated as candidate
for the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize. The proposal was made by Valeriu and Manuela
Pavel in the name of The Romanian Orthodox Community "Stefan cel Mare si
Sfant" from Oslo, Norway. On March 27, 1998, the representatives of the
Romanian Community from Oslo, sustained by personalities from Romania,
sent the application for His Majesty's nominalization at Norwegian Nobel
Royal Institute. The letter of acceptance of the nominalization was received
in only three days. The Romanian Community from Norway was sustained by
the Romanian senator Nistor Badiceanu from the Cristian Democratic Party
(PNTCD), the Prefect of the Bihor County - Dan Balas, the Most Reverend
Virgil Bercea, Greek-Catholic Bishop of Oradea, and by the members of the
Corneliu Coposu(*) Foundation.
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The Nobel Committee accepted the nominalization of King Mihai I on the
grounds of His Majesty's major contribution in the Act of August 23, 1944
(**),
that contributed to the shortening with more than six months of the World
War II, thus saving thousands of human lives and contributing to the defeat
of the Nazi Regime. His Majesty is the only living Head of State from that
time.
(*) Corneliu Coposu (1914-1995)- secretary of the
National Peasant Party (PNT - former name of the Christian Democratic Party)
until 1947, collaborator with Iuliu Maniu, president of PNT at that time.
In Coposu's house, King Mihai and the leaders of the anti-Nazi opposition
held secret discussion to end the war against the Allies. Coposu was arrested
in 1947 by the communists and held in prison for his democratic ideas more
than 17 years. After the falling of the communist Regime, in 1989, he became
the most respected political leader in Romania, and founded the Democratic
Convention from Romania, the main democratic political force from post
communist Romania.
(**) August 23, 1944 - In that day, King Mihai
arrested the pro-German dictator of Romania, Ion Antonescu and formed a
pro Ally government. After that day, Romania declared war to Germany, joining
the United Nations in their fight. August 23, 1944 is considered as one
of the main turning points of the World War II, shortening the war with
more than six months.
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