SPO, LSV against boycott of Nobel ceremony

Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO) and League of Social-Democrats of Vojvodina (LSV) have called on the government to reconsider decision to boycott Nobel ceremony. The Socialists and Radicals think that Serbia needs to support China’s official policy. SPO, LSV against boycott of Nobel ceremony The SPO and LSV have stated in a joint announcement that decision of the Foreign Ministry “will heat up old stereotypes about Serbia as a country which does not have enough awareness about respect for human rights”. They point out that the decision to boycott the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony has sent a bad message to the world, especially to the EU. The Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) and Serbian Radical Party (SRS) have stated however that China is Serbia’s very important partner and that therefore Serbia needs to support China’s official position. Head of the SPS-United Serbia (JS) parliamentary group Branko Ruzic has stated that this issue does not have a strategic importance for Serbia’s state policy but that China’s interests and official policy should be respected. “Cooperation with China is one of the pillars of the foreign policy and it needs to be a priority,” he stressed. The SRS also supports the government’s decision because, as SRS MP Aleksandar Martinovic said, China is Serbia’s important ally. “China did not recognize Kosovo and it supports Serbia’s foreign policy so we have to be correct toward China at all international meetings regardless of whether they are economical, political or scientific,” the SRS MP pointed out. Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) MP Milica Vojic-Markovic says that Nobel Peace Prize should not even exist for Serbia anymore after it was awarded to Martti Ahtisaari. “I suppose that the government is boycotting the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony because they are sad because it was not awarded to Boris Tadic,” Vojic-Markovic emphasized. Serbia is one of 19 countries that will, along with China, boycott Nobel Peace Prize ceremony for Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo on December 10 in Oslo.

SPO, LSV against boycott of Nobel ceremony

The SPO and LSV have stated in a joint announcement that decision of the Foreign Ministry “will heat up old stereotypes about Serbia as a country which does not have enough awareness about respect for human rights”.

They point out that the decision to boycott the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony has sent a bad message to the world, especially to the EU.

The Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) and Serbian Radical Party (SRS) have stated however that China is Serbia’s very important partner and that therefore Serbia needs to support China’s official position.

Head of the SPS-United Serbia (JS) parliamentary group Branko Ružić has stated that this issue does not have a strategic importance for Serbia’s state policy but that China’s interests and official policy should be respected.

“Cooperation with China is one of the pillars of the foreign policy and it needs to be a priority,” he stressed.

The SRS also supports the government’s decision because, as SRS MP Aleksandar Martinović said, China is Serbia’s important ally.

“China did not recognize Kosovo and it supports Serbia’s foreign policy so we have to be correct toward China at all international meetings regardless of whether they are economical, political or scientific,” the SRS MP pointed out.

Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) MP Milica Vojić-Marković says that Nobel Peace Prize should not even exist for Serbia anymore after it was awarded to Martti Ahtisaari.

“I suppose that the government is boycotting the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony because they are sad because it was not awarded to Boris Tadić,” Vojić-Marković emphasized.

Serbia is one of 19 countries that will, along with China, boycott Nobel Peace Prize ceremony for Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo on December 10 in Oslo.