Aftermath of “Nobel dispute”

It is uncertain how FM Vuk Jeremic’s decision not to send the Serbian ambassador to the Nobel ceremony would affect his credibility in the country and abroad. The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony for Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was attended by Serbian Ombudsman Sasa Jankovic. Aftermath of “Nobel dispute” “The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony was not attended by the Serbian ambassador in 'accordance with the decision which was previously made within jurisdiction envisaged by the law',“ the Foreign Ministry said. The decision was made by the Foreign Ministry and Jeremic pointed out that it was in Serbia's state and national interest. After the criticism in the country and abroad, the ombudsman says that he decided to go to Oslo as an independent state organ in charge of human rights when he realized that the foreign minister refused to reconsider his decision. Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert has welcomed Serbia's decision to attend the Nobel Prize ceremony after all. Vuk Jeremic (FoNet) PM: We have well-defined foreign policy “It was not a Serbian government's decision that the country would not have its representative at the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony in Oslo, but one made by Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic,” Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said on Friday, noting that anyone who deviated from the foreign policy adopted by the Serbian government would be replaced. At a press conference after the presentation of the award for the marketing event of the year, organized by the magazine Taboo in Belgrade, he said that Serbia's foreign policy had been defined at the time the current government had been composed. He pointed out that the main objective of Serbia's foreign policy remained focused on European integration and good relations “with big countries such as the U.S., Russia, China and others.” “Bearing all this in mind, anyone who disobeys a policy thus defined will be replaced,” Cvetkovic pointed out. He said the decision to support the attendance of Jankovic at the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony had not been a tactical one, but only a support to the ombudsman, who had already wanted to attend the important event himself. The PM said that Jeremic's decision had been related only to the Foreign Ministry staff. According to him, the Ombudsman belongs to an independent branch of the administration. “The ombudsman wanted to be there, but could not have organized the attendance himself, which is why he sought out my support and I gladly provided it,” Cvetkovic stressed. Serbian President Boris Tadic supported the decision to have a Serbian representative at the Nobel Prize ceremony. Media have been speculating that Tadic called for the FM’s resignation because he did not consult him about the decision to boycott the Nobel ceremony. According to reports, however, the president changed his mind after consultations with his associates. Mirko Cvetkovic (Beta, file) Opposition: Fixing things in nick of time Former Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic did not want to answer whether he would have resigned if his decision had been revoked. He said, however, that Serbia “fixed things in the nick of time” by sending Jankovic to Oslo. The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) says that the state’s conduct in this matter is extremely frivolous. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) insists that Jeremic and those who were defending the initial decision to boycott the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony owe an explanation.

Aftermath of “Nobel dispute”

“The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony was not attended by the Serbian ambassador in 'accordance with the decision which was previously made within jurisdiction envisaged by the law',“ the Foreign Ministry said.

The decision was made by the Foreign Ministry and Jeremić pointed out that it was in Serbia's state and national interest.

After the criticism in the country and abroad, the ombudsman says that he decided to go to Oslo as an independent state organ in charge of human rights when he realized that the foreign minister refused to reconsider his decision.

Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert has welcomed Serbia's decision to attend the Nobel Prize ceremony after all.

PM: We have well-defined foreign policy

“It was not a Serbian government's decision that the country would not have its representative at the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony in Oslo, but one made by Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić,” Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković said on Friday, noting that anyone who deviated from the foreign policy adopted by the Serbian government would be replaced.

At a press conference after the presentation of the award for the marketing event of the year, organized by the magazine Taboo in Belgrade, he said that Serbia's foreign policy had been defined at the time the current government had been composed.

He pointed out that the main objective of Serbia's foreign policy remained focused on European integration and good relations “with big countries such as the U.S., Russia, China and others.”

“Bearing all this in mind, anyone who disobeys a policy thus defined will be replaced,” Cvetković pointed out.

He said the decision to support the attendance of Janković at the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony had not been a tactical one, but only a support to the ombudsman, who had already wanted to attend the important event himself.

The PM said that Jeremić's decision had been related only to the Foreign Ministry staff. According to him, the Ombudsman belongs to an independent branch of the administration.

“The ombudsman wanted to be there, but could not have organized the attendance himself, which is why he sought out my support and I gladly provided it,” Cvetković stressed.

Serbian President Boris Tadić supported the decision to have a Serbian representative at the Nobel Prize ceremony. Media have been speculating that Tadić called for the FM’s resignation because he did not consult him about the decision to boycott the Nobel ceremony. According to reports, however, the president changed his mind after consultations with his associates.

Opposition: Fixing things in nick of time

Former Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Drašković did not want to answer whether he would have resigned if his decision had been revoked.

He said, however, that Serbia “fixed things in the nick of time” by sending Janković to Oslo.

The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) says that the state’s conduct in this matter is extremely frivolous.

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) insists that Jeremić and those who were defending the initial decision to boycott the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony owe an explanation.