Foreign Ministry Denounces Nobel Award

The following is an unofficial translation of a statement posted October 8 on the Chinese Foreign Ministry's website from Ma Zhaoxu, ministry spokesman, on the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Liu Xiaobo.

Q: The Nobel Committee awarded this year's Nobel Peace Price to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. What is your comment on this?

A:  The peace prize should be awarded to: "a person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses." This was the wish of Nobel. Liu is a criminal, convicted by the Chinese judiciary for violating Chinese law. His actions run counter to the mission of Nobel Peace Price. Awarding him the peace price is against the mission, and a blasphemy to the prize.

Q: Will Liu's award hurt China-Norway relations?

A: Sino-Norway relations have been on good terms in recent years, which is in line with the interests of the two countries and their peoples. By awarding Liu Xiaobo the Nobel Peace Prize, the Nobel committee acts against the mission of the prize and will hurt Sino-Norway relations.

Original remarks in Chinese on the Foreign Ministry's website:
http://www.mfa.gov.cn/chn/gxh/tyb/fyrbt/t759532.htm