Seven of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies on Friday praised the improvement in relations across the Taiwan Strait and voiced support for the nation’s participation in UN-related agencies during the ongoing General Debate of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly.
Burkinabe Interim President Michel Kafando expressed gratitude for the opportunity to speak at the session of the UN General Assembly. He was jailed about two weeks ago, but later released in the wake of a military uprising driven by supporters of former Burkinabe president Blaise Compaore.
“It is thanks to you, defenders [of liberty and democracy], that I speak freely today,” he said, denouncing the Sept. 16 coup.
He also spoke on relations across the Taiwan Strait. He welcomed the improvement in cross-strait ties and encouraged both sides to continue their efforts to ease tensions.
Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Timothy Harris called on the international community to pay greater attention to the contributions made by the Republic of China (ROC) in areas such as international cooperation, health, technology, peace and security.
His country and the ROC have maintained a friendship for 30 years, which has benefited the sustainable development of Saint Kitts and Nevis, he said.
Citing his country as an example, he said the cooperation between a tiny developing nation and a developed one can be a model for other nations to follow.
Belizean Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Wilfred Elrington said that the 23 million people of Taiwan are ready to make contributions to the international community through the nation’s participation in UN specialized agencies.
Saint Lucian Minister of External Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation Alva Baptiste said that his country has noticed the continuing exchanges across the Strait and the mutually beneficial trade relationship between the two sides.
Other foreign officials who spoke up for Taiwan included I-Kiribati Permanent Secretary to the UN Makurita Baaro; Tuvaluan Minister for the Environment, Foreign Affairs, Labour and Trade Taukelina Finikaso; and Sao Tomean Minister of Foreign Affairs Manuel Salvador dos Ramos. They expressed support for Taiwan’s participation in UN specialized agencies, such as the WHO and the International Civil Aviation Organization, as well as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Representatives of two allies did not mention Taiwan in their prepared statements in the session: Holy See Secretary for Relations with States Paul Richard Gallagher and Honduran Permanent Representative to the UN Mary Flores.
The UN general debate began on Monday last week and is to run through tomorrow.
Over the past few days, Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes and representatives from Swaziland, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Nauru, Haiti, the Marshall Islands and the Solomon Islands have spoken up for Taiwan during sessions of the debate.
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