Ambassadors from Russia, Belarus and Iran have been disinvited from attending the Nobel Prize ceremony after an initial decision to invite representatives from the three countries drew backlash.
The Nobel Foundation said on Saturday that it would not invite ambassadors from the trio of countries to the ceremony scheduled for December 10 in Stockholm, after several Swedish political parties said they would boycott the event.
Last year, ambassadors from Russia and its ally Belarus were left out of the event because of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
“We recognize the strong reaction in Sweden,” the foundation said in a statement on Saturday.
“Therefore, we chose to repeat last year’s exception to the usual practice — that is, not to invite the ambassadors of Russia, Belarus and Iran to the Nobel Prize award ceremony in Stockholm.”
The ambassador from Russia was not invited to the Nobel Prize event because of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.POOL/AFP via Getty Images
The foundation’s decision was a reversal that came after it announced Thursday that it would invite ambassadors from three countries, saying it sought to include those who did not share the Nobel Prize’s value.
“It is clear that the world is increasingly divided into spheres, where dialogue between those with different views is reduced,” Vidar Helgesen, executive director of the Nobel Foundation, said in an earlier statement.
“To overcome this tendency, we now extend our invitation to celebrate and understand the Nobel Prize and the importance of free science, free culture and a free and peaceful society,” he continued.
The ambassador from Belarus is being punished for allying with Russia in the middle of the Ukraine war.AP
Five of the six Nobel prizes are awarded in Stockholm each year and the Nobel Peace Prize winners are awarded in Oslo during separate celebrations.
The Nobel Foundation stated that although ambassadors from Russia, Belarus, and Iran will not be invited to the ceremony in Stockholm, they can still attend the event in Oslo.
“As before, all ambassadors will be invited to the ceremony in Oslo,” he said.
Iran was also not invited to the ceremony on Dec. 10. AP
This year’s prize winners will be announced from Oct 2. until Oct. 9
The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on Oct. 6.
By Postal Wire.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
