President Chen met Mr. Abel Pacheco de la Espriella, president of the Republic of Costa Rica, and his wife today and warmly greeted the visitors on behalf of the government and people of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
President Chen told the Costa Rican president, who is like a parental figure to Chen, that the Republic of Costa Rica has always been faithful to Taiwan and that Costa Rica's longstanding friendship and strong diplomatic cooperation is unmatched and sincerely appreciated.
President Chen spoke of the Costa Rican president's enduring support of Taiwan's bid into international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations. He commented on how Costa Rica tirelessly lobbied, on numerous occasions in the United Nations, on behalf of the people of Taiwan.
The president also called attention to the different levels of successful partnerships between Taiwan and the Republic of Costa Rica, especially highlighting the vocational education system that Taiwan is helping the Costa Rican government establish.
President Chen further expressed his gratitude for President Abel Pacheco de la Espriella's presence tomorrow at the inauguration of the Democratic Pacific Union where the Costa Rican president's speech is said to be the most important part of the inauguration.
In response, President Abel Pacheco de la Espriella thanked the Taiwanese president for the grand military welcome ceremony, saying that "Being in Taiwan is like being home, I feel honored to be present at the inauguration of the Democratic Pacific Union and to contribute to the linking of the countries on the Pacific Rim."
In light of the end of the 60th anniversary of the Second World War, President Chen emphasized the global significance of the Democratic Pacific Union's inauguration date and the organization's aim of pursuing democracy, peace and prosperity.
The president reiterated that the will of the 23 million people of Taiwan to participate in the international community should not be ignored and that UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 only legitimizes China's representation in the United Nations, not the lives of the 23 million people in Taiwan. President Chen added that the 23 million Taiwanese living on the island could not be represented by any other country and that only these 23 million people could represent themselves; therefore, the issue of Taiwan's recognition in the UN must be considered.
President Chen voiced his concern about maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait, a region he deemed as sensitive to the stability of world peace. He said that China's 700 strategically placed ballistic missiles and its anti-separation law threatens this peace by sanctioning the use of military force to invade Taiwan. The president believes that the United Nations is an organization that values peace and feels China's actions are violating these principles.
Finally, with the United Nations' General Assembly meeting next month, President Chen urged UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to pay closer attention to the Taiwan Strait and hoped that his Excellency, Mr. Abel Pacheco de la Espriella and the people of Costa Rica would continue to support Taiwan in its bid for the United Nations.