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MOFA ISSUES 4-POINT RESPONSE TO U.S. OPPOSITION TO U.N. REFERENDUM

ROC Central News Agency

2007-06-19 23:17:24

    Taipei, June 19 (CNA) The majority of Taiwan people support the government's plan to apply for U.N. membership in the name of Taiwan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesman Wang Chien-yeh said Tuesday.

    Moreover, Wang said, the government's push for a national referendum on the U.N. membership bid does not break President Chen Shui-bian's now-famous "four noes" pledge nor has it anything to do with changing the status quo.

    Chen's four noes pledge, made in his 2000 inaugural speech, refers to his promise that so long as China has no intention of using force against Taiwan, he will not declare independence, will not change the national title or flag, will not enshrine a "two states theory" in the Constitution to define cross-Taiwan Strait relations and will not hold an "independence versus unification" referendum to change the cross-strait status quo.

    Since Taiwan is a democratic country, Wang went on, the government must respect the grassroots call for joining the U.N. in the name of Taiwan.

    Wang made the remarks after an unidentified U.S. State Department Official reiterated Monday that the United States opposes any initiatives that appear to be designed to unilaterally change the Taiwan Strait status quo, which the U.S. believes includes a referendum on whether to apply for U.N. membership as "Taiwan."

    Noting that the quest for U.N. representation under the name of Taiwan is backed by the majority, Wang said the government's plan to hold a national referendum on the issue is a response to public expectations.

    Stressing that the government attaches great importance to relations with the United States, Wang said MOFA will continue to communicate with the U.S. on the issue.

    President Chen formally expressed for the first time during his meeting with Heritage Foundation President Edwin J. Feulner, Jr. in Taipei Monday his wish for holding a referendum on Taiwan's drive to join the United Nations under the name of Taiwan alongside the 2008 presidential election.

(By Sofia Wu)

ENDITEM/J