The call from Oslo, October 2019

“I was so humbled and thrilled when I just heard the news”

Listen to the call between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Olav Njølstad, Secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, recorded shortly after the public announcement of the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize.

Telephone interview, October 2019

“Peace is a very expensive commodity in my country”

Telephone interview with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, following the announcement of the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize on 11 October 2019. The interviewer is Adam Smith, Chief Scientific Officer of Nobel Media.

Immediately after hearing the news of the award, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali answered two quick questions. He describes the encouragement and energy that the prize will provide, both to his and others’ ongoing efforts towards achieving peace in their region, and to those who are trying to work for peace worldwide.

Interview transcript

Adam Smith: Hello, my name is Adam Smith. Thank you for speaking to us. The committee state that they hope this award will give encouragement to your work. What do you think the award will help you achieve?

Abiy Ahmed Ali: Well, peace is a very expensive commodity in my country, as well as in my region. This kind of recognition will give me and others great energy to work towards peace and realise peace in our region. If we really successfully achieve the peace dialogue in this process in our region, the rest can be managed and done easily, so this is a great news for Africa, great news for east Africa, the place where peace is a very expensive commodity. And I’m sure it will give us energy to work towards peace and to realise peace in our region.

AS: Thank you very much indeed. The prize will focus much attention on the region. What message do you have for those who are listening?

AAA: Well the message I have for everyone working on peace, is that bringing results on peace can be easily entrained passively. So people follow to do similar things in their area. So being for peace … Working hard on peace process is a very good thing for yourself, for your region, for your country. And I’m sure it is a great signal for everyone hearing this news who works on peace.

AS: Yes indeed, yes indeed. Thank you so much for your time, and congratulations.

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