Kaohsiung City, April 11 (CNA) Vice President Annette Lu reaffirmed Friday Taiwan's hope of joining the World Health Organization in order to make more contributions to the international community with its high level of medical and quarantine care.
Lu made the remarks at a lecture to students at the National Kaohsiung Institute of Marine Technology.
She said the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) , which is thought to have originated in mainland China, has caused a global panic and has affected Taiwan economically.
However, she added, Taiwan's high-level medical and quarantine capability has been recognized by the world community.
Lu said Taiwan's lack of WHO membership also represents a loss to the world medical circle. She stressed the hope of the island to participate in the WHO and expressed hope that the mainland can also extend help to obtain the goal.
Vice President Annette Lu said Friday that she is willing to lead Taiwan women's groups to visit Iraq after the current U. S.-led war in that Middle East country comes to an end.
Lu made the remarks at the 2003 annual convention of Soroptimist International of Taiwan held in Kaohsiung City, southern Taiwan.
Lu said that she is willing to lead Taiwan women to help with post-war reconstruction in Iraq, and added that doing so will not only help Taiwan women share their experiences with local women, but also will provide Taiwan with a new stage in the international community.
Stressing that the U. S.-led war against Iraq is an affront between democracy and authoritarianism and a conflict between human rights and atrocities, the vice president said the Republic of China government and all the Soroptimist International members have readied themselves to help rebuild Iraq into a democratic country after Saddam Hussein's regime has totally collapsed.