EXCERPTS FROM TEXT OF SPEECH BY CHAZOV
Author: Associated Press
Date: Wednesday, December 11, 1985
Page: 26
Section: NATIONAL/FOREIGN
Here are excerpts from the prepared text of the speech by Dr. Yevgeni Chazov
accepting the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of International Physicians for
the Prevention of Nuclear War. The text was translated from Russian by Nobel
organizers.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Colleagues,
I am convinced that today is a great and exciting day not only for the
members of our international movement but also for all physicians on our
planet, irregardless of their political and religious beliefs. For the first
time in history, their selfless service for the cause of maintaining life on
Earth is marked by the high Nobel Prize. True to the Hippocratic Oath, we
cannot keep silent knowing what can the final epidemic - nuclear war - bring
to the humankind. The bell of Hiroshima rings in our hearts not as a funeral
knell but as an alarm bell calling out to actions to protect life on our
planet.
From the first days of our movement we suggested our prescription for
survival which envisaged a ban on tests of nuclear weapons, a freeze,
reduction and eventual elimination of nuclear weapons, non-first-use of
nuclear weapons, ending the arms race on Earth and preventing it from
spreading to outer space, creation of the atmosphere of trust between peoples
and countries, promotion of close international cooperation.
The five years of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear
War were not all roses. We had to cope with mistrust, skepticism, indifference
and sometimes animosity. Our aspirations are pure: from times immemorial the
physician was and remains the one who dedicates his life to the happiness of
fellow men.
And we are happy that today broad public and, what is especially important
for the cause of peace, the Nobel Committee show high appreciation of the
noble and humane endeavors of each of the 145,000 physicians persistent in
their work to prevent nuclear war. For this we are grateful to the committee.
At this moment I recall the telegram I received at the time of our first
congress from an ordinary woman in Brooklyn. It was short: "Thank you on
behalf of children."
As adults we are obliged to avert transformation of the earth from a
flourishing planet into a heap of smoking ruins. Our duty is to hand it over
to our successors in a better state than it was inherited by us.
Therefore, it is not for fame but for the happiness and for the future of
all mothers and children that we, the International Physicians for the
Prevention of Nuclear War, have worked, are working and will work.
AA0490;12/10,05:24 NKELLY;12/11,13:22 CHAZOV11
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