Nobel Shock

Shirin Ebadi winning Nobel Peace Prize is big news, but the bigger news is the fact that John Paul II lost it. In Croatian media rumours and speculations about His Holiness winning this year were considered more than reliable and they made perfect sense because of Pope's bad health. This easily be the last opportunity for John Paul II to receive such prestigious award.

Many in Croatia, especially those with right-wing views, would probably share Lech Walesa's feelings about this whole affair.

I think that Nobel Committee, given the choice between Ebadi and Pope, made the right decision. Ebadi's prize would actually boost reformist, liberal and progressive forces in Iran and thus directly contribute to the world peace. On the other hand, Nobel Peace Prize in hands of John Paul II is nothing more than matter of diplomatic courtesy.