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Israel draws the line at Taiwan deepening ties with Iran

ROC Central News Agency

2010/07/25 20:00:53

Taipei, July 25 (CNA) Israel has no objection to Taiwan fostering a better relationship with the Arab world but will frown on closer Taiwan-Iran ties, the top Israeli envoy to Taiwan said Thursday.

Rafael Gamzou, the head of the Israel Cultural and Economic Office in Taipei, in an interview with the Central News Agency made a sharp distinction between Iran and the rest of the Arab bloc, saying Israel never raises any obstacles to its friends developing relationships with the Arab world -- with the exception of Iran.

"We are so much interested in developing relationships with the Arabs so why should we ask our friends not to do it, " he said. "But if you ask me about Iran, the Iran today, then my answer would be slightly different."

Earlier this year, the Associated Press reported that Tehran had expressed interest in establishing a commercial representative office in Taiwan, but that Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) had turned down the proposal after consultations with Gamzou's office.

In the interview last week, Gamzou said it was a matter of timing. At the moment, many major countries in the free world, such as the U.S. and the European nations, are condemning the Iranian regime for its nuclear power program, therefore, it would be imprudent for Taiwan to deepen its relationship with Tehran, he said.

"A few months ago, we read that there was a big commercial delegation coming from Tehran and an association of trade or some kind of chamber of commerce was inaugurated here, " he said. "We thought the timing was really not a perfect one, not only from our point of view, but from a Taiwanese point of view."

He suggested that Taiwan adopt a wait-and-see attitude as the free world, under the leadership of the U.S., decides how to deal with the Iran regime.

Gamzou said he was pleased that the MOFA eventually agreed to keep Iran at arms length.

According to the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) , Iran was Taiwan's 25th largest trading partner in 2009, with a total trade volume of over US$2.54 billion, more than double the Taiwan-Israel trade volume for the same period.

TAITRA also noted that in April 2009, in an effort to execute President Ma Ying-jeou's directive to help Taiwan gain better market access, the MOFA planned to ease visa restrictions for Iranians.

A Taiwan-Iran Economic and Trade Association was established in Taipei in December 2009 and at the same time, TAITRA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tehran Chamber of Commerce on the mining industry.

TAITRA currently maintains a Taiwan Trade Center in Tehran.

(By Jenny W. Hsu)

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