Serbia most likely would not have a representative on the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo. European Commission regrets Serbia’s decision, stated Fuele. Jeremic: I do not see how the decision could be revised.

European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele stated on Thursday that the European Commission (EC) regrets Serbia's decision not to send its representative to the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo.

Following his meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, Fuele said that the EU believes that respect of human rights is one of the main principles of existence and that, as a country striving for EU membership, Serbia should back the expansion of human rights.

As an EU hopeful, Serbia should also coordinate its policy with the foreign policy of the EU, Fuele said.

Serbian President Boris Tadic stated on Thursday that he will voice his stand on the decision for Serbia not to attend the Nobel Prize ceremony only after the government states its opinion on the matter.

Tadic told reporters that the decision was made by Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, but that the government has not voiced its view yet.

“The foreign minister made the decision in keeping with his authority and the country's law. As far as I know, the Serbian government has not discussed the matter yet. Let's just let the institutions do their job,” Tadic told reporters.

According to the president, the minister makes decisions in keeping with his jurisdiction, responsibilities and estimates, and the same is true when it comes to the government. He noted that he will state his mind on the matter once the process is over.

Tadic reminded that he himself comes from a dissident family, and was brought up in a dissident environment because his father was declared a public enemy in the '60s, when Tadic was only 10 years old.

However, the president added that he would not like to comment on the matter from his subjective standpoint, because it would not be conducive to the adoption of political decisions.

Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic stated on Thursday that Serbia's decision not to attend the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony to Chinese dissident Lui Xiaobo in Oslo is a tactical one, and aimed at maintaining strategic relations with China.

Cvetkovic underlined that the Republic of Serbia observes human rights.

“This is Serbia's tactic move aimed at maintenance of strategic relations with China,” Cvetkovic said in Brussels answering the questions of participants of a conference on the EU integration of the Western Balkan countries.

He recalled that the representatives of Serbia did not attend the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony to Finland's ex-president Martti Ahtisaari, but that no one ever asked why Serbia failed to appear at the ceremony.

Commissioner for the Protection of Equality Nevena Petrusic called on the Serbian government on Thursday to re-examine the decision not to attend this year's Nobel Peace Prize ceremony honouring the Chinese democracy and human rights fighter Liu Xiaobo.

According to a release by the Nobel Committee, Serbia is one of 19 countries which decided not to send their representatives to the Friday Nobel Peace Prize ceremony honouring the Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo.

Jeremic: Serbia has four priorities for 2011

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said late Thursday that Serbia's priorities for next year are continuing its path toward the EU, preserving its territorial integrity, developing regional and neighborly relations and economic diplomacy.

Giving a lecture to the students of the Nis Faculty of Philosophy, Jeremic reiterated that Serbia sees the world as one whole resting on four pillars - the EU, Russia, China and the United States.

Jeremic told reporters in Nis, southern Serbia, that “all decisions were adopted in keeping with the law and established procedure, and after a considerable deliberation.”

“We would not have adopted such a decision were we not sure that it is justified,” the minister said at the Nis Faculty of Philosophy, where he gave a lecture for the students on the Serbian diplomacy.

Asked to comment on the stand of Serbian President Boris Tadic regarding this issue, Jeremic said that it would not be appropriate for any minister to comment on president's statements.