The EU slammed candidate country Serbia's prime minister in Brussels Thursday after Belgrade decided to boycott Friday's Nobel peace prize-giving ceremony for jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo.
European Union enlargement commissioner Stefan Fuele gave Serb Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic a public dressing-down after talks on its bid to join the 27-nation bloc ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the start of next week.
The EU "regrets the decision of Serbia not to attend" the ceremony in Oslo, Fuele said alongside a stoney-faced Cvetkovic.
The latter refused to budge or answer when asked about his country's decision and its incongruous position vis-a-vis the bloc.
Fuele said "respect of human rights is a founding principle of the EU, and member states have agreed to attend at ambassador level," adding that Serbia "is expected to embrace euro values and coordinate" with partners.
Serbia is joining 18 other countries including China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran, angered by the decision to give the prize to jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo.
Serb Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic has admitted the decision was prompted in part by a desire to keep on side with Beijing.
"China is a proven friend of Serbia (and)… this decision represents the state interest of Serbia in the best way in this moment," Jeremic told private B92 television.
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