President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday he was happy and proud that the elections for mayors and city councilors in Taipei and Kaohsiung were held without incident.
Chen made the remarks while meeting with a delegation of the American Legion, which arrived in Taipei on Sunday for a four-day visit.
Chen told his guests that voting and vote counting for the weekend's elections had proceeded smoothly.
"Even more amazingly was that street landscape and everyday life in the two cities have quickly returned to normal after the frenzied campaigns," Chen said, adding all these phenomena indicate that democracy has matured and taken root in Taiwan.
Chen also expressed gratitude for the longtime US support for Taiwan and for the US concern about security in the Taiwan Strait.
Noting that the longstanding bilateral friendship lies in the two nations' shared values in democracy, freedom and human rights as well as their expectations for regional and world peace, Chen said that continuing to provide Taiwan with weapons by the US is critical to the protection of Taiwan's hard-won democratic achievements.
With progress in democratization, Chen went on, the armed forces have been fully nationalized and have stayed away from meddling in electoral affairs.
Chen also said his administration is pushing for government restructuring under which the Veterans Affairs Commission will be upgraded so it will be able to offer better services to all retired military service members.
American Legion National Commander Ronald Conley offered his congratulations on Taiwan's democratic advancements.
He said the American Legion, the world's largest veterans organization, will continue to support the Taiwan's independent sovereign status, democracy and security.
The legion will also continue to push the George W. Bush administration to sell Taiwan all the defensive weapons it needs to defend its national security, Conley said.
Also present at the meeting were American Legion Auxiliary President Elsie Bailey and commission Chairman Yang Teh-chih (
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