Chen congratulates Pope

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) sent a congratulatory message on behalf of the government and the people of Taiwan to Pope John Paul II on the occasion of the pontiff's 82nd birthday yesterday. The president noted in his message that the pontiff's proclamation on World Peace Day, his prayer for peace in January and his Easter message in March all urged the people of the world to stop violence and to increase dialogue to maintain world peace. At a time when the world is restless because of violence and ethnic clashes, the pope's concern about human welfare and world peace is impressive, Chen said. The president also said that, as a member of the international community, Taiwan has an unavoidable responsibility to maintain world peace. He noted that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have been divided because of the differences between democratic and authorita-rian systems.