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German lawmakers hail government’s UN strategy

“Increased contacts between the people can help both sides gain a better understanding of each other and thus eliminate any misunderstanding and produce more good will.”

— Hubert Deittert, a member of the Berlin-Taipei Friendship Group

Taiwan’s UN entry strategy this year is very “proactive and positive,” a group of German parliamentarians said yesterday, touting the government’s “step by step” effort to create better cross-strait relations.

“[The bid] is definitely not a step back but a very significant and symbolic move,” said Wilhelm Josef Sebastian, chairman of the Berlin-Taipei Friendship Group, who is leading the eight-member delegation on its five-day visit.

This year Taiwan is only requesting “meaningful participation” in the activities sponsored by the UN’s specialized agencies. While some have lauded the move, critics have slammed it as a monumental setback.

The German lawmakers gave a thumbs-up to the Taipei-Beijing dialogue in a meeting with President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday morning. They said frequent contacts and cultural exchanges between the people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait could be effective in reducing tensions.

“Increased contacts between the people can help both sides gain a better understanding of each other and thus eliminate any misunderstanding and produce more good will,” said Hubert Deittert, praising the administration for forging better cross-strait relations in a gradual, “step by step” manner.

Hans-Michael Goldmann said it was “ridiculous” that “someone who has visited Germany 13 times is not allowed to even go to Europe after becoming president,” referring to Ma.

The Berlin-Taipei Friendship Group will try to persuade the German government to lift its ban on high-level visits between the two countries, he said.

“We hope not only to welcome President Ma to visit Germany, but allow high-ranking German officials on the ministerial level to visit Taiwan, such as the economic affairs minister,” Sebastian said.

Another delegate, Irmingard Schewe-Gerigk, urged Taiwan to be more vigilant in its efforts to cut carbon dioxide emissions and promote alternative energy sources, while another delegate suggested that Taiwan follow the example of other developed countries by abolishing the death penalty.

The German delegation heads home today.
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