■ Diplomacy
Ambassador meets Chen
Marlene Villenla de Talbott, the new Honduran ambassador to the ROC, presented his credentials to President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday. Chen extended a warm welcome to Villenla on his arrival in his new post, saying he is the best choice for the job. Noting that ROC-Honduran relations have been cordial, Chen said he is hopeful that Villenla will help to further boost bilateral exchanges and cooperation. Chen expressed his gratitude for Honduras' staunch support for Taiwan in the international arena -- including support for Taiwan's bid to join the UN and other major world organizations -- over the past years. Chen said he has fond memories of his state visit to Honduras in June last year. He added that Taiwan is now preparing for the arrival of Honduran President Ricardo Maduro Joest. Maduro is scheduled to arrive in Taipei tomorrow for his first overseas trip since assuming office.
■ Cross-strait ties
Ma seeks `depoliticization'
Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday called for all parties to "depoliticize" matters related to the opening of direct links to help accelerate cross-strait talks leading to the materialization of the long-awaited, much-talked about plan. Ma said he is more than agreeable with officials from the Presidential Office and the Executive Yuan who hold positive views on Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen's (錢其琛) reported new definition of Taiwan-China shipping and air links as "cross-strait routes." Ma said "depoliticization" will help accelerate cross-strait talks, not simply on the direct links issue, but on issues in other areas. Ma also noted that when direct links talks kick off, he hopes that Sungshan Airport will be designated as one of the airports to be used in implementing the direct air links.
■ Direct Links
Pilgrims visit Xiamen
More than 1,000 pilgrims from Taiwan made a direct voyage from Kinmen to Xiamen yesterday. It was the largest Taiwan pilgrimage group to travel directly from Kinmen to Xiamen since direct shipping services between the two areas were inaugurated at the beginning of 2001. The delegation was organized by the Taiwan Matsu Followers Association (TMFA, 台灣媽祖聯誼會) , which is composed of 18 local temples dedicated to Matsu -- the Chinese goddess of the sea. The pilgrims came to Kinmen from major Taiwan cities and counties via air in preparation for the direct voyage to Xiamen. TMFA President Cheng Ming-kun (鄭銘坤), who concurrently serves as vice chairman of the Chennan Temple in Taichung County, said the group will attend the inauguration of a refurbished Matsu temple in Fujian's Putian City.
■ Diplomacy
Detainees get a visit
An official of the Manila-based Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) paid a visit yesterday to a group of Taiwan fishermen being detained by the Philippine authorities. TECO Secretary Chang Shih-chou (張世洲) said he brought medicine and food to scores of crew members of four fishing vessels -- the Man Chi Tsai, New Fu Hsing 269, Kun Fa Cheng and Man Yi Fung -- who were arrested in April at Arpari Port in the northern Philippines for illegally operating in Philippine territorial waters. Chang said he also visited the Philippine coast patrol and fishing and immigration authorities to gain a detailed understanding of the events and to ensure humanitarian treatment for the imprisoned fishermen.
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