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MOFA regrets French president's opposition to U.N. referendum

ROC Central News Agency

2007-11-28 23:26:13

    Taipei, Nov. 28 (CNA) Foreign Minister James Huang has expressed the country's regrets over French President Nicolas Sarkozy's opposition to Taiwan's planned referendum on the country's U.N. membership bid, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

    Huang expressed regret and surprise during a Tuesday meeting he called with French representative to Taipei, Jean-Claude Poimboeuf, the MOFA press release said.

    Huang said Taiwan feels deep regret that Sarkozy has compromised on core democratic values with Beijing on account of business contracts worth up to NT$1 trillion (about US$31 billion) signed between France and China.

    Sarkozy recently described Taiwan's planned referendum slated for next March as a "mistake" in a statement issued at a joint news conference with his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, during his three-day visit to China.

    In response, the MOFA noted in the press release that democracy, freedom, and human rights are the founding spirits of France, and that a right to a referendum is a core democratic value.

    Following his assumption of office, Sarkozy has emphasized human rights and democracy, the press release said, adding that Sarkozy's opposition to Taiwan's plan to hold a referendum is beyond the Taiwanese government's understanding.

    Describing U.N. membership as a common aspiration of the people of Taiwan, the MOFA said in the press release that the government respects the will and decision of the public to hold a referendum -- a just and democratic procedure -- to promote the country's U.N. bid.

    The referendum is not intended to alter the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, the press release said, adding that Sarkozy's remarks have hurt the feelings of the Taiwanese people.

    Taiwan cannot accept Sarkozy's view that there is only one China and that Taiwan is a part of China's territory because such remarks distort history and political reality, the press release went on.

    The MOFA called on the French government to pay heed to China's "anti-secession law" and approximately 1,000 missiles deployed on the southeastern Chinese coast targeting Taiwan as they have endangered cross-strait security and regional peace, the press release noted.

    Such moves taken by Beijing are genuine attempts to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, the press release said.

    The ministry hopes that France will handle cross-strait affairs on an equal-footing basis and that it will not overly favor China and thereby jeopardize the rights of the 23 million Taiwanese people in the international community, the press release added.

(By T.C. Jiang)

ENDITEM/jnc