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NYTIMES/ 16 countries including 3 nations covered in this news blog - Cuba, Ukraine, and Venezuela - boycotted the ceremony awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to imprisoned Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo (pictured).
China was mightily angered that the Nobel committee chose Liu, who is serving an 11-year sentence for his essay so it reportedly pressured nations it does business with to stay away from Oslo.
China reportedly warned diplomats in Oslo not to attend and said there would be "consequences" if they did so.
Cuba and Venezuela kowtowed to econovore China's wish. As did Ukraine following Mother Russia and Putin's lead.
At first, Colombia was among the countries listed NOT to attend, blaming a scheduling conflict with the Nobel ceremony for literature. But, after criticism, Colombia found a way to be attend.
Meanwhile, Serbia, looking for EU for entry also said it would not show-up.
The EU warned Serbia that shunning the Nobel awards sent the wrong message for EU entry.
Belgrade said that it had some big business deals at stake with China, ranging from loans for major coal-powered plants to a bridge construction project over the Danube. But it, too, reluctantly caved-in to EU pressure at the last possible hour.
FOR EU SERBIA WARNING DETAILS, SEE:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6B747120101208%20
SERBIA UPDATE 09 DEC: Serbia defended its Chinese-led boycott of the Nobel Peace ceremony. Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said China was a "proven friend" and that the decision was "not easy at all, and far from ideal".
FOR SERBIA RESPONSE DETAILS, SEE:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11957094
