TAIWAN WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR WHO ENTRY EVERY YEAR: MOFA
2004-03-09 17:05:12
Taipei, March 9 (CNA) Taiwan will continue to push to join the World Health Organization (WHO) every year, an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Tuesday.
Lu Ching-lung, deputy head of MOFA's Non-governmental Organization Affairs Committee, spoke in the wake of President Chen Shui-bian's recent remarks that he will work to have Taiwan included in the world health body within two years if he is re-elected.
Lu said that he himself traveled to Geneva, Switzerland several times on behalf of the government to attend the WHO's annual conference to lobby WHO members to support Taiwan's bid. He was happy to hear President Chen's announcement, adding that MOFA and the Department of Health will work toward achieving the goal.
Lu noted that the international community has formed a consensus on Taiwan's bid to join the United Nations'-affiliated organization. Though mainland China will continue to relentlessly squeeze Taiwan, Lu said it will be impossible to shut Taiwan out of the WHO.
He said MOFA has solicited the support of WHO members using every possible channel, and has received positive responses.
Though Taiwan's chances of joining the WHO is greater now than before, he said he wants to remind the public to refrain from unreasonable expectations, adding that whether Taiwan can join the WHO will depend on getting the most support from WHO members.
He stressed that though it is important to provide medical resources and talent to the world, the more important thing is the adherence to ideals, adding that Taiwan will continue to promote its bid to join the WHO every year.
(By Lilian Wu)
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