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Referendum to add momentum to U.N. cause: foreign minister

ROC Central News Agency

2007-10-01 20:49:23

    Taipei, Oct. 1 (CNA) The government's bid to seek U.N. membership for the county under the name Taiwan is not an emotionally charged move, and it will help add momentum to the government's drive if a planned public referendum approves of the move, Minister of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) James Huang said Monday.

    Huang made the remarks during a question-and-answer session at the Legislative Yuan in response to main opposition Kuomintang lawmakers' inquiries about the effectiveness of a government international media campaign calling for Taiwan's U.N. membership.

    The government's drive to push for Taiwan's U.N. cause is not a precipitous action, but rather a move in response to popular desire to push the country to enter the international organization as a full member, he explained.

    The U.N bid issue has stirred up widespread international discussion after several of Taiwan's diplomatic allies proposed in mid-September that the U.N. General Committee include Taiwan's membership application on the agenda of the world body's 62nd General Assembly, Huang noted, adding that global media outlets have more extensively reported on Taiwan's U.N. bid this year.

    The latest development has allowed the voice of the people to be heard around the world, and if a public referendum -- slated to be held alongside the March 22, 2008 presidential election -- indicates approval of the government policy of pursuing U.N. membership, it will help inject greater energy into the ongoing campaign, he said.

    Responding to a question on whether the United States has objected the government's U.N. referendum plan, Huang stressed that the country's U.N. cause and a planned referendum concerning the issue are two separate matters.

    While seeking Taiwan's U.N. membership is a major government policy, holding a referendum to explore the public's opinion on the issue is common practice in democratic nations, he said, arguing that there is no need to regard a U.N. referendum as a move toward Taiwan independence.

(By Flor Wang)

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