'Nineteen countries' shun Nobel

[amigo]

Apparently being the first African-American President promotes world peace . Plus don't you just love his slogan - CHANGE!!!

now his beloved americans are wanting change.

 

[CardSharp]

Apparently being the first African-American President promotes world peace . Plus don't you just love his slogan - CHANGE!!!

There's a phrase describing Obama's 2 years in office that I really like "Change without difference"

 

[Ras]

What is the deal with the flame war here between Chinese and Indians....almost every neighbor of China is attending the ceremony except for Pakistan and Russia(who is claiming that they had scheduling difficulties and not because of the Chinese concerns) and in the whole world only 18 countries are not attending.As a matter of context 10 countries did not attend the 2008 ceremony when there was no controversy of any kind.

 

[CardSharp]

What is the deal with the flame war here between Chinese and Indians....almost every neighbor of China is attending the ceremony except for Pakistan and Russia(who is claiming that they had scheduling difficulties and not because of the Chinese concerns) and in the whole world only 18 countries are not attending. As a matter of context 10 countries did not attend the 2008 ceremony when there was no controversy of any kind.

Only 44 countries will attend (hardly the world) and out of China's neighbours who were invited Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Vietnam and the Philippines declined to attend.

*it helps to look at a map*

(also did you really think that Burma and North Korea were going to be in attendance)

 

[Ras]

Only 44 countries will attend, hardly the world and out of China's neighbours who were invited Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Vietnam and the Philippines declined to attend.

*it helps to look at a map*

Not all countries are invited..and more than 2/3rd's have agreed to attend of the invited.

My mistake about the Chinese neighbors attendance.

 

[CardSharp]

Not all countries are invited..and more than 2/3rd's have agreed to attend of the invited.

Yep that sounds about right.

 

[Ras]

And I think headlines like "snub Chinese" must be treated with a grain of salt...Indian media is same as Fox news.

 

[fallstuff]

Not all countries are invited..and more than 2/3rd's have agreed to attend of the invited.

My mistake about the Chinese neighbors attendance.

Its only the countries with Embassies in Norway. Their Ambassadors were invited.

 

[Merilion]

Its only the countries with Embassies in Norway. Their Ambassadors were invited.

does bangladesh have embassy in oslo? i guess no as i don't see bangladesh's name among the 19 not attending country list.

 

[CardSharp]

And I think headlines like "snub Chinese" must be treated with a grain of salt...Indian media is same as Fox news.

Then I'd suggest headlines like "China Threatens India" should be treated with the same skepticism.

 

[fallstuff]

does bangladesh have embassy in oslo? i guess no as i don't see bangladesh's name among the 19 not attending country list.

I don't think so. Bangladesh has an embassy in Sweden, that one looks after the interests in the other Nordic countries.

 

[jbond197]

Actually you're right this event is no big deal.

Still it's just typical behaviour from India, whether the issue is big or small.

What kind of behavior was that when China blocked ban on terrorists accused of targeting Indian cities. Was that typical in your opinion or not?

 

[justanobserver]

India has still not decided:

India Keeps Silent About Nobel Ceremony Plans as China Summit Approaches

India has formally announced dates for this month's planned visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. But Delhi still refuses to say whether it will send someone to attend the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony honoring a Chinese dissident in Oslo. The timing of the two events is causing discomfort.

India's Foreign Ministry specified Tuesday that China's Wen Jiabao will come here for a state visit from December 15 to 17. Five days before his arrival, on the 10th, the Nobel Committee is scheduled to confer this year's Peace prize on Liu Xiaobo - a Chinese democracy advocate serving a prison sentence for what Beijing calls "subversion."

18 countries have joined China in boycotting the Nobel ceremony, including India's main rival Pakistan, an ally of China. Beijing has warned there will be economic "consequences" for those nations which do send a representative to the ceremony.

The imminent arrival of the Chinese leader creates awkward timing for Indian officials, who say they are still examining the issue of whether to attend the Nobel ceremony. Irritating Beijing so soon before a summit, some fear, could weaken the likelihood of progress on difficult issues such as an India - China border dispute. India is also seeking to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council - something China, already a permanent member, is in a position to block if it chooses.

Bhaskar Roy, a China researcher with the South Asia Analysis group, believes the chances of India boycotting the Nobel event are about "fifty-fifty" based on Delhi's desire for a smooth summit with China. However, he says there is a moral imperative for India to send a representative.

"Indians have been the recipient of the Nobel peace prize, and it will not be right for India to withdraw from this one under duress," he said.

Roy and other analysts see even more important strategic implications to staying away from the Nobel ceremony.

B. Raman, a former Indian Cabinet secretary, says failing to attend will send the wrong signal about India.

"We project ourselves as a weak power, amenable to pressure from China. And that kind of image you should not project," said Raman.

Looking weak now, says Raman, will only encourage more attempts at intimidation by China in the future. That consideration, he says, is even more important over the long term than upholding India's global image as an advocate of democracy.

"The moral aspect, people tend to forget over a period of time. But the strategic aspect, people remember for a long time," added Raman.

India has never skipped a Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in previous years.

VOA | India Keeps Silent About Nobel Ceremony Plans as China Summit Approaches | Asia | English

 

[CardSharp]

So we are getting contradictory reports?

 

[justanobserver]

So we are getting contradictory reports?

Indian officials haven't clarified their stance as of now

Most invited countries, including India will attend Friday's Nobel peace prize ceremony in Oslo for jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, Nobel Institute director Geir Lundestad said on Tuesday, contradicting a statement from China.

This was said by the Nobel Institute director it's not an official Indian view (yet).

Maybe that's the reason why The Indian Express changed it's headline quickly