Dr. Michael Nobel Honoured Receives the FICAC Order of Merit

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March 2014 Dr. Michael Nobel Honoured Receives the FICAC Order of Merit

50th Anniversary celebrations of the United Nations Vienna Convention on Consular Relations were held at the J.W. Marriott Marquis in Miami Florida on the 1st of February 2014. Dr. Michael Nobel is the first recipient of the FICAC Order of Merit, the commemorative medal of the 50th Anniversary of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963 from the President of FICAC, Hon. Arnold Foote, OJ, CD, JP. Also in photograph from left, Hon. Nikolaos Margaropoulos, Director, Hon. Aykut Eken, Secretary General, Hon. Costas Lefkaritis, Vice President of FICAC.

Several Dignitaries from around the world flew to Miami for the occasion. This historic event was well attended and very successful.

1 Introduction of Dr. Michael Nobel by Hon. Nikolaos Margaropoulos

In picture from left Hon. Aykut Eken, FICAC Secretary General, Hon. Nikolaos Margaropoulos introducing Dr. Michael Nobel, FICAC President, Honourable Arnold Foote and Hon. Costas Lefkaritis.

In his introduction, Hon. Nikolaos United Nation’s Social Affairs Division fellow at the Centre for the Study of Margaropoulos said: in the field of drug abuse prevention. World Civilizations at Tokyo Tech For 15 years he also represented the and a professor at Seisa University. Michael Nobel was born in 1941 in Nobel family as vice chairman and He regularly gives keynote lectures Stockholm, Sweden. He is a member of later chairman of its board of directors. on various subjects at international the Nobel family, the great grandson of He is founder and trustee of the Nobel conferences around the world. Industrialist and humanitarian, Ludvig Sustainable Trust. Nobel, the founder of Branobel, and one Michael Nobel sits on several of the worlds richest men in his time. Dr. Nobel participated in the introduction international prize committees and has Ludvig was the brother of Alfred Nobel of magnetic resonance imaging as received many international citations who invented dynamite, and established European Vice President of Fonar Corp and awards for his work in the fields of 5 prizes in the family name. in 1981. From 1991 to 2007 he served as medicine and conflict resolution. These After studies in Sweden and America the Executive Chairman of the MRAB include an honorary doctorate from Prof. Nobel obtained a doctorate at Group, a company providing diagnostic Soka University in Japan and honorary the University of Lausanne in psycho- imaging services to Swedish hospitals. professorships from the National pedagogy. Today Dr. Nobel is chairman or board Academy of Science of Azerbaijan and member of six international companies the Alfred Nobel University in Ukraine. He then worked for seven years as in medical diagnostics, treatment and a researcher in social sciences at the information systems. Ladies and Gentlemen, it gives me great Institute for Mass Communication at pleasure to ask Dr. Michael Nobel to the Lausanne University and at the In the academic field Dr. Nobel was come forward and receive the FICAC Department of Social Psychiatry at visiting professor at the Frontier Order of Merit, the Commemorative the Institute of Social and Preventive Research Institute at the Tokyo Medal marking the 50th Anniversary Medicine. He was also consultant to Institute of Technology between 2007 of the Vienna Convention on Consular UNESCO in Paris and the Geneva and 2012. He is currently a senior Relations.

2 President of FICAC welcomes guests to the banquet Honouring Dr. Michael Nobel

FICAC President, The Honourable Arnold Foote OJ, CD, JP, Dr. Michael Nobel and Hon. Costas Lefkaritis.

FICAC President Arnold Foote, states on the attainment by the Vienna publicly congratulate the United in his speech, said: Convention on Consular Relations of Nations on its achievement. its Golden Jubilee. The Board of Directors of our On behalf of the Board of Directors Federation decided to mark the of the World Federation of Consuls, To mark the occasion of the occasion by honouring 5 outstanding it gives me great pleasure to welcome 50th Anniversary of the Vienna citizens of the world and I am pleased you all here this evening to our Convention on Consular Relations, a to announce that Dr. Michael Nobel banquet to honour Dr. Michael Nobel. reception was held by our Federation was the first world citizen chosen. Dr. at the Turkish Centre, opposite the Nobel will receive the FICAC Order On 24th April, 1963, the United United Nations, at which over 100 of Merit, the commemorative medal Nations Conference on Consular countries were represented. marking the 50th Anniversary of Relations adopted and opened for the Vienna Convention on Consular signature, the Vienna Convention The guest list was headed by H. E. Relations. on Consular Relations, the Optional Mr. Vuk Jeremic, President of the Protocol concerning acquisition of General Assembly of the United While the origin of the Consular nationality and the Optional Protocol Nations. The Secretary General H. institution can be traced back to concerning the compulsory settlement E. Ban Ki-moon, sent his apologies ancient Greece, it was not until the of disputes. for not being able to attend due to a 12th century that the first figure of On 24th April, 2013, The World previous engagement. the Consul emerged and developed Federation of Consuls congratulated It is important to note that our to its present and more complex the United Nations and its member Federation is the only NGO to structure. The extraordinary increase

3 recognized by the Organization of American States.

The World Federation of Consuls has achieved international recognition, credibility and influence. Today, our Federation has over 90 country members, associations and affiliated members with several thousand individual Consul members. Our membership is a network of highly experienced, well connected individuals, whose determined focus, combined expertise and resources can President of World Federation of Consuls Hon. Arnold Foote congratulates Dr. Michael Nobel on be used to impact the world for good. his receiving the FICAC Order of Merit. “This award is well deserved Dr. Nobel. We are honored that you are here with us tonight receiving the FICAC Order of Merit” says Hon. Arnold Foote. The practice of mutual respect and adherence to the principals recognized of Consulates during the 19th and Associations to share experiences and in the Vienna Convention on Consular 20th centuries revealed the need for a to coordinate efforts to enhance the Relations 1963 will continue to guide precise legal framework specific to the effectiveness and status of the Consul. the promotion of Consular cooperation Consular service and the legal status of Our Federation is incorporated in in each member country. Consuls. Belgium by Royal Decree as a non- We have undertaken an extensive profit international organization with programme, to congratulate and thank The Vienna Convention on Consular its Permanent Secretariat located in the United Nations, and celebrate Relations 1963 recognized that Brussels. the 50th Anniversary of the Vienna Honorary Consuls that had been Convention on Consular Relations, extensively utilized in the past, The Federation’s business is conducted which involves all our members in constituted an efficient instrument through several committees, each every region of the world. in enhancing international relations. operating with clearly defined Later on, changes in social, political portfolios and terms of reference. Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of and economic activity created a new Our Board of Directors meets the Directors and members of our challenge for the Consular institution; quarterly to evaluate action by the Federation, I would like to again the protection of citizens and the committees and take decisions on their welcome you and thank you for being safeguard of their interest. recommendations, in accordance with with us tonight and sincerely hope you mandates and policies agreed by the will enjoy the evening. The World Federation of Consuls was General Assembly at our Triennial established in Copenhagen in October World Congress. Thank you. 1982 as the Federation Internationale des Corps et Associations Consulaires, Our Federation enjoys United Nations abbreviated as FICAC. FICAC was recognition as an NGO with ECOSOC born out of the necessity to bring Status. We have similar recognition at together Consular Corps and Consular the European Union, and we are also

4 Dr. Michael Nobel praises Consuls. “You are truly indispensable representatives of the Diplomatic Corps”

In photograph with Dr. Michael Nobel are Hon. Nikolaos Margaropoulos, Director, Hon. Sylvain Cohen, Director, Hon. Francois Piers, Director and Hon. Aykut Eken, FICAC Secretary General.

In his speech, Hon. Dr. Michael Nobel I am very pleased to see so many said: representatives of the diplomatic corps here but I would also like to thank those Dear Arnold, excellences, dear here who are not members of FICAC colleagues, ladies and gentlemen. and have come tonight. It is great to be here tonight and I am very honored to participate in this Starting with those who have the farthest prestigious dinner organized by the to travel we have among us Nicolai International Federation of Consuls. Korpan from Vienna, Henrik Selstam I have been asked to talk about the from Gothenburg with his business Nobel Prize but before I do I would associate Erik Fareid from Norway, like to express my special thanks to a Vincent Giampapa with partner from number of persons here. New Jersey. From Florida we have Fred Blevens and his wife, Tom Schaefer I’d like to warmly thank Arnold and and last but certainly not least, Robin Patricia Foote for hosting this event and and Susie Shelley from Coconut Grove. for doing me this singular honor. My Thank you all very much for being thanks also go to the board of directors here. I also would like to express some of the International Federation of words of admiration for the members Dr. Michael Nobel addressing the audience at the Consuls. of FICAC present. When people talk FICAC banquet.

5 Dr. Michael Nobel addressing the audience at the FICAC banquet.

of diplomats they usually refer to crowns, not such a great fortune today Several studies have shown that the ambassadors, charge d’affaires, military but one of the largest in the world at that name Nobel is one of the most well and commercial attaches and so on. time. known and respected the world over. But much of the real work is being done The main reason for this is of course by the consuls and their offices. They In Paris in 1895 Alfred Nobel was these Nobel Prizes. There are literally are facing many of the problems of the pondering what he was going to do many hundreds of prizes and awards, world, replacements of lost passports with his fortune. His brothers and among which there are dozens of peace and money, visits to prisoners, attending their children were already rich and he prizes but only one stands far above any official luncheons, having to explain and had no children of his own. So Alfred of the others. impose rules from the home office and created the famous will, which would so on. You are the truly indispensable realize some of the goals to which he The prize sum today amounts to roughly representatives of the diplomatic corps. had devoted much of his life. $1 million, tax free, except of course in the US. Let me give you some background on Alfred’s reasons for creating the Prize Alfred Nobel and the prize, which bears were defined by him in the following Alfred’s reasons for creating the Prize his name. Alfred Nobel was my great way: “To spread enlightenment is to were defined by him in the following granduncle, we all come from his two spread prosperity for everyone and way: brothers, he was never married. with prosperity most of the evil will “To spread enlightenment is to In 1895 Alfred and his brothers owned disappear. The conquests of scientific spread prosperity for everyone and or controlled assets of 83 million research... instill in us the hope that the with prosperity most of the evil will crowns including being the sole microbes of the body and the soul will disappear. The conquests of scientific owners of the world’s second largest oil gradually be exterminated and that the research... instil in us the hope that the company in Russia, assets which today only war humanity will wage in the microbes of the body and the soul will would represent several billion dollars. future will be the war against those gradually be exterminated and that the Alfred’s part was 30 million Swedish microbes”. only war humanity will wage in the

6 future will be the war against those First, a very long tradition. Each money, the foundation who manages it microbes”. Nice sentiment I think. Nobel laureate becomes member of a and organizes the ceremonies and the Why did he choose the five subjects large group of famous people whose committees who select the winners. he did, chemistry, physics, literature, collective accomplishments and No undue cross influence is thereby medicine and peace? Why not, for reputation is reflected upon him or her possible, as with some other prizes. example, mathematics or astronomy or and their descendants. biology? The prizes are furthermore truly A second reason is the solemnity of international; they are given to anyone The answer is simple. the proceedings, it is a rather splendid regardless of race, nationality, creed He chose chemistry and physics ceremony, the Swedish king bestows and sex. No restrictions that might have because he worked in those fields and the prizes, with the royal family lessened the reputation of the award. saw himself primarily to be a chemist attending together with leading and a physicist. politicians, scientists, academicians, The significant prize amount is another He choose literature because he was the banquet is resplendent with classic reason. A million dollars is still a fairly also deeply interested in literature, he music, performance of international substantial sum, tax-free in all countries read voraciously and had a very large artists, beautiful surroundings, the best except one, can you guess which one, collection of books. food and wine that Sweden can offer the US of course. and so forth. His interest in medicine was reinforced A third reason is the thoroughness in United States far dominate the number by the fact that he was in poor health, the selection of the candidates: each of scientific prizes received with almost somewhat of a hypochondriac and procedure involves dozens of external 70 % of the total. In the US, Harvard constantly complaining about various experts, takes the better part of a year to tops the list followed by UCLA, Cal ailments. He found it ironic that the do and costs the equivalent of the prize Tech. MIT, Chicago and Stanford. After doctors prescribed nitroglycerine for itself, over a million dollars. Harvard, Cambridge University in the his vaso-constrictory-based headaches United Kingdom comes second in the since he felt his work with the acids There is also a strict formal separation total number of prizes won. producing the substance, had in fact between the family who gave the caused them.

His interest in peace came from several sources, he was influenced by the pacific poetry of the English poet Percy Shelley, by his long standing friendship with Bertha von Sutter, who won the Nobel peace prize in 1905 and a genuine personal desire to promote peace. He had no particular interest in mathematics or astronomy or other subjects.

Why the unique prestige of the Nobel Prize? Why is it that the Nobel Prize shines all alone at the top, far above Dr. Vincent Giampapa, Ms. Monica Alfonso and Dr. Michael Nobel. any other?

7 In photograph from left, Hon. Aykut Eken, FICAC Secretary General, Dr. Elaine Davis, Chairperson FICAC South Caribbean Region, Dr. Michael Nobel, Dr. Cecilia Rokusak, Honourary Consul for the Slovak Republic in Miami Florida. A frequently asked question is why complaining about various ailments. 1970ties. He himself was never really these five particular subjects were He found it ironic that the doctors interested in making money except to chosen by Alfred and not others, for prescribed nitroglycerine for his advance science. example mathematics or astronomy or headaches, since he felt his work with biology. the acids producing nitroglycerine had How could then a man, as genuinely in fact caused these problems. interested in peace as Alfred Nobel, The answer is simple. He chose purchase one of the world’s largest arms chemistry and physics because he His devotion to peace came from manufacturers, the Swedish Bofors worked in those fields all his life and several sources, he was influenced company? saw himself primarily to be a scientist. by the pacific poetry of the English He choose literature because he was poet Percy Shelley, by a long standing He did this because he believed that in also deeply interested in literature and friendship with Bertha von Sutter, who providing each country with so many had a very large collection of books, won the Nobel peace prize in 1905 and weapons that they could not attack each he read voraciously, wrote poems and a genuine personal desire to promote other, a primitive form of terror balance, a play called the Nemesis, a rather peace. He had no particular interest in and he dreamed about inventing a mediocre melodrama which, perhaps mathematics or astronomy or other weapon so terrible as to make war fortunately, was never shown in public subjects. between nations impossible. during his lifetime. As a parenthesis, the so-called Nobel Ladies and gentlemen, this was only a His interest in medicine was also great Prize in economics is really the Swedish brief recital of the life of Alfred Nobel, and was reinforced by the fact that he Central Bank’s prize in memory of and thank you for your attention. was often in poor health, somewhat Alfred Nobel and was created in the of a hypochondriac and constantly

8 Hon.Thomas Amaral Neves reads the citation to Dr. Michael Nobel. Also in photo from left Hon. Nikolaos Margaropoulos, Hon. Sylvain Cohen, Hon. Francois Piers, Hon. Aykut Eken, Hon. Arnold Foote and Hon. Costas Lefkaritis.

From left Hon. Francois Piers and Mrs. Piers, Hon. Thomas Mr. David Tate, Dr. Michael Nobel, Mr. Alan Byles and FICAC Amaral Neves and Mrs. Neves. President, Hon. Arnold Foote OJ, CD, JP.

9 From left Mrs. Patricia Foote, Dr. Vincent Giampapa, Dr. Michael Ms. Jackie Perle, Mrs. Joan Mahfood and Mrs. Patricia Foote. Nobel, Ms. Monica Alfonso and Prof. Nikolai Korpan.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Amaral Neves with Dr. Michael Nobel. In photograph from left is Hon. Don Chee-A-Tow Barbados CC, Mrs. Karen Wright, Dr. Michael Nobel Hon. Rosendo Alvarez and Thomas Amaral Neves.

10 Dr. Michael Nobel, Hon. Gonul Eken, Hon. Aykut Eken and Mr. Eyup Ozturk. Dr. Cecilia Rokusak, Ambassador Umberto Vattani and Mr. Michael Youngman.

Hon. Sonia Brouwer, Dr. Michael Nobel and Hon. Wilhelm Brouwer. From left Dr. Michael Nobel, Mrs. Margo Youngman, Hon. Arnold Foote and Mrs. Foote and Hon. Elaine Davis.

11 From left, Prof. Fred Blevens, Ms. Monica Alfonso, Mrs. Blevens and Mr. and Mrs. Robin Shelley.

From left having a great moment together is Hon. Gonul Eken, Hon. Mrs. Joan Mahfood, Mrs. Patricia Foote, Mr. Jalil Dabdoub and Nikolaos Margaropoulos and Hon. Sylvain Cohen. Mrs.Diana Dabdoub.