China Convinces 19 Countries to Skip Nobel Ceremony

Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Venezuela, Afghanistan and others to stay home

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 7, 2010 7:01 AM CST

(Newser) – The number of countries avoiding Liu Xiaobo’s Nobel Peace Prize ceremony has more than tripled in the last three weeks, from six to 19, as countries cave to pressure from China to snub the dissident. Russia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Serbia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Venezuela, Kazakhstan, Colombia, Tunisia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Egypt, Sudan, Ukraine, Cuba, and Morocco have all “for various reasons declined our invitations,” the Nobel committee announced on its website yesterday.

China has waged a relentless campaign to ruin the ceremony (for proof, check out our Liu Nobel Prize grid). “I would like to say to those at the Nobel committee, they are orchestrating an anti-China farce by themselves,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said yesterday. “We are not changing because of interference by a few clowns and we will not change our path.” But the bluster hasn't deterred most Western nations; 44 countries have signaled their intention to come, the New York Times reports.

Police officers stand guard in front of the pictures of jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo outside the Chinese government liaison office in Hong Kong on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Pro-democracy protesters hang photos of jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo outside the Chinese government liaison office in Hong Kong on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Pro-democracy protesters holding banners bearing photos of jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo march to the Chinese government liaison office in Hong Kong on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

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China Convinces 19 Countries to Skip Nobel Ceremony

Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Venezuela, Afghanistan and others to stay home

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Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Venezuela, Afghanistan and others to stay home

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

China • Nobel Prize • Liu Xiaobo • Liu Xiabo Nobel Peace Prize

MOST POPULAR STORIES

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More Newser Stories

China Blocks CNN, BBC Ahead of Nobel Ceremony

It's standard policy for Beijing on sensitive subjects

China to Europe: Boycott Nobel Ceremony

And intensifies the crackdown at home

US Presses China to Release Nobel Winner's Wife

Liu Xia says jailed husband has asked her to collect peace prize

Jailed Chinese Dissident Wins Nobel Peace Prize

Liu Xiabo praised for human rights struggle

Peace Prize Ceremony Proceeds ... With Empty Chair

Liu Xiaobo's Nobel the first since 1936 to go uncollected

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Newser By Users

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