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Former Mexican president cancels on PRC concerns

Former Mexican president Vin-cente Fox has decided not to join the first Global Forum on New Democracies to protect the interests of the Mexican government, which is involved in anti-shoe dumping negotiations with Beijing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said last night.

The forum begins today in Taipei.

The ministry said Fox canceled his speaking engagement at the last minute, at the strong recommendation of his government.

Former Bulgarian president Zhelyu Zhelev, who also appeared on the list of participants, also canceled because of heavy fog at Sofia airport. Former Romanian president Emil Constantinescu will deliver his remarks on his behalf.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday that Taiwan had not made public the list of participants in the forum until the last minute to avoid possible sabotage by China.

Chen said Taiwan had to take precautions given that most of the participants were former leaders of countries with no diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

"At such a difficult moment, I would like to thank all the participating leaders for their support and encouragement for Taiwan. These friends have deeply touched Taiwan and made the country feel especially welcome on the path of democracy," Chen wrote in the latest issue of his online newsletter.

The list of participants, released on Wednesday by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, the organizer of the event, includes: Constantinescu, former El Salvadoran president Francisco Guillermo Florez Perez, former Polish president Lech Walesa, former South African president Frederik Willem de Klerk and former South Korean president Kim Young-sam.

The former leaders are expected to join Chen in discussing the achievements and challenges of new democracies, including the choice of a constitutional system, party politics, transitional justice and civil society. They are also expected to sign a joint declaration at the conclusion of the event.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY JENNY W. HSU
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