DPP referendum not aimed at changing status quo: MOFA
ROC Central News Agency
2007-12-11 17:07:58
Taipei, Dec. 11 (CNA) The referendum called by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration on Taiwan's U. N. cause is not aimed at changing the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, Minister of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) James Huang asserted Tuesday.
Huang made the comments to reporters on a tour of a local temple in the southern Taiwan city of Tainan.
Huang said both he and President Chen Shui-bian had clearly explained a day earlier the government's stance on the issue to visiting American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman Raymond Burghardt to assuage U.S. concerns during a meeting in Taipei.
The government's effort to hold a referendum on whether the country should pursue U.N. membership in the name of Taiwan is merely an attempt to push the country to enter the world body as a full member -- something which Huang said has nothing to do with altering the cross-strait status quo nor what Beijing calls promoting "de jure" Taiwan independence.
According to Huang, he urged Burghardt to listen to the voices of Taiwan's people rather than just the opinions of the nation's leaders. In a democracy, holding a referendum is the best way to explore the views of the people, he said.
Reinforcing Taiwan's democracy and cementing public awareness of a "Taiwan-centric" consciousness are in the common interest of Taiwan and the United States, and also key to safeguarding peace in the Asia-Pacific region, he stressed.
The DPP-initiated referendum on pushing for Taiwan's U.N. membership will be held alongside the March 22, 2008 presidential election. Another KMT-proposed referendum calling for the country's participation at the world body in the name of the Republic of China will be held at the same time.
(By Flor Wang)
enditem/jnc
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