President Chen Shui-bian on July 4 met Dr. Thierry de Montbrial, President of the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) at the Presidential Building. The president expressed a warm welcome to Dr. Montbrial for making the long journey to Taiwan. President Chen also said that both ruling and opposition parties on Taiwan accept the holding of public referendums, adding that the concept of referendums has gradually become a part of the political system and the lives of people here. The president said that when the presidential election is held here next year, a number of referendums may be on the ballot.
Dr. Montbrial said that nations throughout Europe frequently hold public referendums. This is particularly the case in Switzerland, where any issue relating to life in that country is voted on in a referendum. Dr. Montbrial said that holding referendums is a common activity and this does not cause any instability or impact on the political situation in that country. He added that the design and timing of referendums commonly impact the result of the vote.
President Chen said Dr. Montbrial in 1979 founded the IFRI and has served as the organization's president since. The IFRI is one of France's most important independent research think tanks and has considerable influence. Dr. Montbrial previously also participated in the establishment of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Analysis and Forecast Center and served as the director of the center for six years. He has also been appointed as a research fellow in a number of international research centers and has received many awards throughout the world in honor of his contributions. Dr. Montbrial first visited Taiwan 17 years ago as a recipient of an Eisenhower Fellowship.
In discussions between the two, President Chen said relations between Taiwan and France are good. He said that in January of this year, Taiwan's National Science Council and France's National Research Agency inked an agreement on cooperation under which each side each year will promote high level humanities research projects.