Post-Election 2008: MOFA determined to seek consensus with Ma over WHA

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is determined to seek a consensus with the new government in planning the nation's bid to take part in World Health Assembly (WHA) activities in May, a ministry spokeswoman said yesterday in Taipei.

With the inauguration of president-elect Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) set for May 20, Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) said certain policies would be frozen during the transition until the new government takes over.

"Regarding Taiwan's application to join the WHO at this May's WHA, MOFA will seek consensus with president-elect Ma and his staff on how to proceed," ministry spokeswoman Phoebe Yeh (葉非比) said.

"We will respect president-elect Ma's opinion and make plans based on the latest circumstances," she said.

"However, since the WHA is slated to open on May 19, a day before the inauguration of the new government, we need to work out a consensus with the new government and devise plans carefully," Yeh said.

Taiwan has repeatedly failed in bids to become an observer or member of the WHO because of China's political intervention. As a result, it is denied direct contact with the WHO, including in the areas of disease control and prevention.

A Central News Agency report filed from Geneva on Friday said that China had requested foreign delegations in Geneva to join its efforts to block any Taiwanese activity toward accession into the WHA.

Yeh said that, judging from the result of the two referendums held alongside the presidential election on Saturday, people in Taiwan clearly want to be part of the international community.

"The question is not that people in Taiwan do not want to join the UN, but what the official name should be and how Taiwan should present its bid," Yeh said.

The 61st session of the WHA is scheduled to take place in Geneva from May 19 to May 24.