Chen to attend Colom's inauguration

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) will leave for a five-day visit to Guatemala and Saint Lucia tomorrow to strengthen friendships with the nation's allies in Central America and the Caribbean, the Presidential Office said yesterday.

The president accepted the US offer to refuel in Alaska on his way and on his return journey, after Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office Representative in Washington Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) negotiated with the US for permission to make a transit stop.

Chen will meet with AIT Chairman Raymond Burghardt during a 90-minute refueling stop at Anchorage airport, Presidential Office Deputy Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said.

Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang said the main purpose of Chen's trip was to attend the inauguration of Guatemalan president-elect Alvaro Colom on Monday.

"The inauguration is a very significant diplomatic arena for the country," Huang said.

When Chen made a US transit -- also in Anchorage -- en route to Central America last year, his plane was limited to a 50 minute refueling stop.

During the brief period, Chen chose not to step out of the plane and put on stickers that read "UN for Taiwan," a gesture described by his entourage as a "silent protest" against US opposition to a referendum on the nation applying for UN membership using the name Taiwan.

Lin said yesterday that Chen and his entourage would not put on stickers this time, but he did not say whether the president would step out of the plane.

"There is no need to put the stickers on because the world already knows about the UN referendum," Lin said.

The Presidential Office said Chen would hold bilateral meetings with the heads of Honduras, El Salvador, Panama and Nicaragua.

After a three-day stay in Guatemala, Chen will head to Saint Lucia -- his first visit since the country established diplomatic ties with Taiwan in May.