Grenada supports Taiwan's right to sovereignty and international recognition, the Caribbean country's foreign minister reaffirmed Thursday.
"I think they [Taiwan] are more than qualified and more than eligible to take their place in the international community," Elvin Nimrod, Grenada's foreign affairs minister said.
Nimrod made the comments when speaking about his trip to Taiwan last month, restating Grenada's commitment and support for Taiwan's bid to join international organizations.
Nimrod was in Taiwan late last month attending the Sixth Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan. The meeting, also attended by representatives from Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent, was held for the purpose of strengthening multilateral integration in areas such as culture, trade and economics, agriculture and tourism.
At the meeting, the Grenadines had reaffirmed their country's commitment and support for Taiwan's bid to join major international organizations, including the UN and the WHO.
During his talk on Thursday, Nimrod also revealed that Taiwan has pledged US$360,000 in development aid to Grenada, brushing aside suggestions that Taiwan is buying its close relationship with the island.
"We were not bought in any way," Nimrod said. "We have a fundamental belief that Taiwan deserves membership in international organizations that we subscribe to."
The minister's comments come just days after two top opposition lawmakers left for China in hopes of drumming up campaign funds for their National Democratic Congress ahead of general elections in 2004.
The latest aid from Taiwan includes US$100,000 to help buy equipment for Grenada's new hospital, as well as US$60,000 for new computers and US$200,000 for loans to develop small business, Nimrod said.
While commenting that development aid for countries that have ties with Taiwan is not unusual, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Katharine Chang (張小月) declined to confirm the aid figure that Nimrod spoke of.
"I do not confirm any figure," Chang told the Taipei Times. "Although, it is true that we do provide funds for development aid to countries that have diplomatic ties with us."
The development aid, Chang added, is used in areas such as short-term medical services, scholarships for human-resources training and computer equipment as well as projects in agriculture, fishing and micro-enterprise.
Grenada's finance ministry said the majority of Taiwanese funds in past years has gone toward building a highway from the airport to the capital, a national stadium and a government office building as well as projects in agriculture, health and education.
Taiwan has given Grenada more than US$100 million in the past seven years since the two islands established diplomatic relations, said the Grenadine finance ministry.
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