Dutch King and PM to attend Sochi Games
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E-mail Xinhua, January 11, 2014
Although several Western countries do not send their hot shots, Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Prime Minister Mark Rutte will attend the Winter Olympics in Sochi, announced by PM Rutte on Friday.
Queen Maxima and Minister Edith Schippers of Health, Welfare and Sport will also join the Dutch delegation.
"The Netherlands will be represented. We reject a boycott. It is better to engage in dialogue," said Prime Minister Rutte at his weekly press conference in The Hague.
The Dutch King will go as an honorary member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), but also as Dutch Head of State, stressed Rutte. "We're going to support our athletes and while we speak to politicians, I will not keep my mouth shut," Rutte added.
The composition of the delegation to Sochi is delicate because of the alleged violation of human rights in Russia and the introduction of anti-gay laws.
The Netherlands do not join the growing amount of Western countries who do not send their top deputies to Russia. The political leaders of Germany, France, Belgium, Britain and the United States have recently declined Russia's invitation to come in February.
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