China with strong criticism of Nobel Committee leader
China strongly criticizes the Nobel Committee leader, Berit Reiss-Andersen, asking “relevant actors” to strive to maintain the relationship between Norway and China.
On Tuesday, the widow of peace prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, the artist Liu Xia (57), left China after spending eight years in house arrest. The release from house arrest was celebrated by the Nobel Committee‘s chairwoman, Berit Reiss-Andersen, who says that Liu has been subject to unnecessary suffering on the hand of the Chinese Government. On Thursday, China reacts to Reiss-Andersen’s statement using strong terms.
– The Statement of committee leader Reiss-Andersen distort facts, backstabs and contain strong provocations directed against the Chinese Government. Her words reveal her arrogance and prejudice towards China. The committee leader tries to appear as a spokeswoman for how China handles human rights issues, which is ridiculous; the Chinese embassy in Norway writes in a statement.
Asks “relevant actors” to maintain the good relationship
Norway’s relationship with China froze after Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010. The relations were normalized after the two countries agreed on a political declaration in which Norway pledged to respect China’s “core interests”.
– Awarding the peace prize to Liu Xiaobo in 2010 was a serious attack on China and an interference in the country’s internal affairs, the statement says.
The Embassy points out that it took six years for the relationship between Norway and China to return to normal. They write that they are now hoping that “relevant actors” in Norway will work to maintain the good relationship between the nations.
– The normalization of the bilateral relations between our two countries is a result of hard and good work, which continues to develop positively. We hope relevant actors will appreciate this positive development and do even more to develop the relationship between our two countries, instead of counteracting it.
Reiss-Andersen: – Not an attack on China
Committee leader Reiss-Andersen tells NTB that she is surprised by the criticism from the Chinese embassy.
– My statements are an expression of pleasure that Liu Xia was released from house arrest and that I appreciate that Chinese authorities made humanitarian considerations and allowed her to travel. They are not an attack on the People’s Republic of China, she says.
Reiss-Andersen emphasizes that the Peace Prize is awarded according to Alfred Nobel’s statutes, regardless of what National states around the globe may think about a particular laureate.
– The Norwegian Nobel Prize Committee has supported the laureate Liu Xiaobo, and the committee stood behind his spouse when she was subject to punitive measures due to her connection with him, explains Reiss-Andersen.
© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today
