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PFP WANTS INTERNAL `PAN-BLUE' COORDINATION ON ARMS PROCUREMENT DEAL

ROC Central News Agency

2006-02-06 17:08:56

    Taipei, Feb. 6 (CNA) An opposition People First Party (PFP) official said Monday that the party wants Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng to coordinate between the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and the PFP on the U.S. arms procurement deal before starting a cross-caucus negotiation in the legislature.

    PFP Policy Research Center Director Chang Hsien-yao said the PFP will not guarantee to accept completely the KMT's position on the procurement deal. "As long as the government cannot clarify whether we are paying more than necessary for the deal, the PFP will not change its existing position, but recognizes the necessity for Taiwan to have self-defense capabilities," Chang said. "President Chen Shui-bian's Chinese New Year remarks regarding the abolition of the National Unification Council have caused turbulence and conflict in cross-Taiwan Strait relations and have affected regional security. If this issue does not get resolved first, it will not help no matter how many weapons we purchase, " Chang said.

    He made the statement after he met with Wang earlier in the day to discuss the arms procurement deal, the Control Yuan member nominations, cross-strait relations and various legislative affairs. Wang also met with KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou that day to discuss the arms procurement deal. "It is expected that there will be an outcome to the arms procurement deal in March or April, although the outcome might not be completely satisfying to some," Wang said after he met with Ma.

    Wang said he and Ma agreed that the KMT will release its position paper on the deal in late February and will then discuss it with other opposition parties. Wang said he will convene a cross-caucus negotiation after the opposition parties agree on a unified position.

    Wang said there might also be a breakthrough on the controversial Control Yuan member nominations in the upcoming legislative session. "Eliminating the controversies stemming from these two bills will improve domestic political harmony and stability," Wang said.

    Wang is also expected to meet with Chen to brief him on the U.S. position on the arms procurement deal. Wang visited Washington and discussed various issues with heavyweight U.S. politicians during a stopover on a trip he made to attend the Honduran presidential inauguration as Chen's envoy just before Chinese New Year.

(By Debby Wu)

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