'No Nobel boycott, only sked conflict'

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang denied yesterday the Philippines was boycotting the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway for Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo due to pressure from China.

President Aquino said it would be up to the Department of Foreign Affairs to deal with the matter.

Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky Carandang and presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the absence of the Philippines from the ceremony should not be a big issue because attendance was optional.

The secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which awards the prize, said China had mounted an unprecedented campaign to persuade other countries to boycott Friday’s award gala, but two-thirds of invited nations would attend.

Russia, Kazakhstan, Colombia, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Serbia, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Egypt, Sudan, Ukraine, Cuba and Morocco are also not sending any representative.

Carandang said the Philippine ambassador to Norway would not be in the ceremony because of a conflict of schedule. Lacierda said the DFA informed the Palace that the Philippine ambassador would be in Denmark.

“That’s what the DFA said and that’s really a matter best left with the DFA,” Carandang said.

“I don’t even know if we can call it a boycott on our part. If it’s a scheduling conflict it’s probably not right to call it a boycott,” Carandang said.

“Attendance to that is optional so I don’t think that that is going to be or should be a big issue. I’m not aware of any pressure from China for us not to attend,” Carandang said.