Taiwan says to launch fresh bid for WHO membership |
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Thu, 12 Apr 2007 12:31
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TAIPEI (XFN-ASIA) - Taiwan said it is planning to launch a new bid to join the World Health Organization (WHO) as a member under the name 'Taiwan'.'In the past, we made efforts to become an observer of the World Health Assembly (WHA) and fought for the right to attend technical conferences. This year we will also apply for WHO membership,' said presidential secretary general Chiou I-jen.The WHA is the highest decision-making body of the WHO, whose 192 member countries meet once a year to agree on policies and appoint a director-general.Since 1997, Taipei's annual attempts to become an observer at the WHA as a 'health entity' have been thwarted by Beijing, which considers the island part of its territory awaiting reunification.'Our government decided to apply this year for both an observer seat on the WHA and membership with the WHO using the name 'Taiwan',' Chiou said.President Chen Shui-bian made the requests in a letter sent yesterday to WHO director general Margaret Chan via Taipei's representative office in Geneva, officials here said.Taiwan was evicted from the WHO in 1972, a year after losing the 'China' seat in the United Nations to Beijing.Only 24 countries maintain diplomatic relations with Taipei over Beijing.afp/net
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China's premier says Beijing resolutely opposes Taiwan independence 