Serbian lawmakers and human right activists called on the government Wednesday to explain and reconsider its decision to boycott the Nobel peace prize ceremony in order not to upset ties with China.
Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee asked Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic to explain the decision in person, with senior MPs allied to the ruling coalition making their displeasure known at a move which has drawn fire from the European Union.
"We are fully entitled to demand an explanation for any foreign policy decision on an important isssue," said Nada Kolundzija, the parliamentary head of the Coalition for European Serbia, the senior coalition partner.
Deputies from the opposition Liberal-Democratic Party and League of Socialdemocrats of Vojvodina also asked for an official explanation, warning of "political consequences of such decision," the Tanjug news agency said.
Although Jeremic has not appeared before parliament, the minister has admitted the decision to shun the ceremony for the jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was prompted in part by a desire to keep on side with Beijing.
Apart from Russia, Serbia is the only European country to boycott Friday's ceremony in Oslo and the move has triggered a sharp rebuke from the European Union, membership of which is a key priority for Belgrade.
A group of prominent human rights non-governmental organisations, including Humanitarian Law Centre and Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, said that the government had made a diplomatic blunder as it called for a rethink.
"By such a decision Serbia's leadership shows that it does not understand modern international relations, treats human rights with disdain and gives priority to blackmails and not to the values recognised throughout the world," the NGOs said in a joint statement.
And there was also criticism from within the foreign ministry with the head of an advisory body known as Foreign Policy Council, Sonja Liht, quoted as saying the decision was "wrong" as respect of human rights and other European values were integral parts of the ruling coalition's electoral platform.
In Brussels, Angela Filote, the spokeswoman for EU enlargement said any country which aspired to join the bloc was expected "to fully share the values of the EU, and protection of human rights is one of (its) fundamental values."
EU enlargement commissioner Stefan Fuele may raise the issue during a meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic on Thursday, she added.
Jeremic has defended his country's decision to miss the ceremony, saying Tuesday that keeping good ties with "one of Serbia's most important bilateral partners" was in the "national interest."
A total of 19 countries, including Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, and China itself, have decided to shun the event.
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