INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Nobel Foundation said Saturday it was reversing its decision to invite ambassadors from Russia and Belarus to this year's Nobel award
ceremony in Stockholm, after the move sparked a backlash.In 2022, the Nobel Foundation, which organizes the annual Nobel prize ceremony and
banquet in Stockholm, decided not to invite the Russian and Belarusian ambassadors to the Stockholm award event because of the war in
Ukraine.They made the same decision regarding the Iranian envoy over the country's crackdown on a wave of protests.The Swedish foundation
however said Thursday it was returning to its previous practice of inviting ambassadors from all countries represented in Sweden, sparking a
wave of angry reactions.The foundation said Saturday that the decision was based on its belief "that it is important and right to reach out
as widely as possible with the values and messages that the Nobel Prize stands for."It noted however that the strong reactions "completely
ambassadors of Russia, Belarus and Iran to the Nobel Prize award ceremony in Stockholm," the foundation said in a statement.Last year, the
Norwegian Nobel Institute still invited all ambassadors to the Peace Prize ceremony it organizes in Oslo, and the foundation said this would
be the case again."As before, all ambassadors will be invited to the ceremony in Oslo," it noted.The decision to once again invite the
Russian and Belarusian representatives sparked ire in Sweden and abroad.Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko wrote on
Facebook that the foundation should support efforts to isolate Russia and Belarus as "millions of Ukrainians suffer from an unprovoked war
and the Russian regime is not punished for its crimes."On Saturday, Nikolenko called the reversal a "victory for humanism.""We thank
everyone who demanded the restoration of justice
We are convinced that a similar decision should be made regarding the Russian and Belarusian ambassadors to Oslo," he said in another post
to Facebook.Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also said Friday he disagreed with the Foundation's decision."I would not have done it if
I were handling invites to an award ceremony and I understand that it upsets many people in both Sweden and Ukraine," he said in a written
statement to AFP.Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, Kristersson on Saturday welcomed the new decision."The many and strong reactions
prominent Swedish politicians, including the leaders of the Center, Green, Left and Liberal parties, had said they would boycott the event
over the Russian ambassador's presence.The glitzy event is held each year in Stockholm on Dec
10 when laureates in the fields of medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and economics receive their awards from King Carl XVI Gustaf.A
separate ceremony is held in Oslo on the same day for the Peace Prize laureate.
