President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday suggested that the former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration’s efforts to join the UN as a full member had “little meaning.”
“Our bids to participate in the UN General Assembly should not focus solely on returning to the international body. Such endeavors may appear vociferous, but don’t have much meaning,” he said, referring to the former government’s failed efforts.
Ma made the remarks while meeting representatives of environmental groups at the Presidential Office yesterday afternoon.
Ma said that while the government could not attend the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Copenhagen this year, he hoped it could participate in future conferences.
Because the world body does not recognize Taiwan’s government, the country’s environmental groups have in the past participated in the annual meetings as members of an NGO.
Ma said that what was important for Taiwan was to participate in the UN’s professional meetings concerning Taiwan’s livelihood, existence, production and environment, including the World Health Assembly (WHA) and the UNFCCC.
Ma said he was glad to see the country participate in the WHA as an observer this year, adding that his administration had promised to donate locally produced (A)H1N1 vaccines worth NT$5 million (US$155,000 ) to the WHO.
There are only 15 countries capable of manufacturing the vaccines, Ma said.
Participating in the UNFCCC was important, he said, because it allowed the international community to learn about the efforts Taiwan has made to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The country could also obtain first-hand information from the convention, he said.
Ma claimed that since taking office in May last year, the country has seen a dramatic reduction in greenhouse gases because of his administration’s policies. Although Taiwan is not a signatory of the Kyoto Protocol, Ma said his government has the goal of cutting carbon dioxide emissions to 2008 levels by 2020, to 2000 levels by 2025 and to half of 2000 levels by 2050.
“It is an ambitious plan,” he said. “The key is whether the leader is determined to attain the goal. I believe that where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
The Ma administration has changed the country’s strategy in attempting to participate in the UN. Despite cross-strait detente, China last year blocked the country’s attempts to join the World Meteorological Organization and other specialized UN agencies.
This year, the Ma administration sought “meaningful participation” in the UNFCCC and the International Civil Aviation Organization but also failed.
Taiwan gave up its UN seat in 1971 and Beijing has thwarted the country’s previous bids to return to the world body as a full member. The country has made unsuccessful attempts to have the world body consider the issue of its representation since 1993.
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