An interview with minister of health now on Web site

The US Web site GoodNews-Broadcast.com (www.goodnewsbroadcast.com) yesterday put a recording of their April 17th interview with Taiwan's Minister of Health, Lee Ming-liang (李明亮), on their Web site.

In the 13-minute, 33-second long interview, Lee expressed Taiwan's wish to once again become a member of the WHO, an organization of which the nation was one of the founding members. He also recognized Taiwan's current international status, saying that Taiwan -- for the moment -- only seeks observer status. There are reports that the Council of Europe and the US Congress will support Taiwan's bid, and the interviewer said that US President George W. Bush has authorized Secretary of State Colin Powell to declare the appropriateness of Taiwan's joining the organization.

Lee said that obtaining observer status does not involve the issue of statehood, and that since even the International Red Cross holds observer status to the WHO, there is no reason Taiwan shouldn't be allowed the same status.

The interviewer also congratulated Lee on Taiwan being ranked second only to Sweden in the Economist Intelligence Unit's ranking of welfare systems.

Lee stressed that even though Taiwan still is not a member of the WHO, the nation actively contributes to and participates in international health development activities, disease prevention and personnel training.

He further told listeners that after the disastrous 921 earthquake, personnel from the Taiwan-based Tzu Chi Foundation very quickly arrived at the disaster area, and that it was one of the last charity organizations to leave the site.

GoodNewsBroadcast.com specializes in broadcasting non-violent, life-affirming, thought-provoking and educationally positive good news.

Lately, Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) and Frederick Chien (錢復), representing the Taiwanese government, have been on interviewed on the site.