President Chen Shui-bian met with Mr. John Alderdice, President of Liberal International, on the morning of December 10 at the Presidential Office. President Chen expressed a warm welcome and gratitude to President Alderdice on behalf of the government and 23 million people of the ROC (Taiwan).
The president said he appreciated the long support for Taiwan by Liberal International. In addition to Liberal International holding Executive Committee meetings in 2000 and 2004 in Taipei and Kaohsiung, respectively, the organization also held the Forum on Asian Women's Political Participation in Taipei in 2005. Liberal International also held a human rights seminar in Taipei this year. In 2001, Liberty International awarded its Prize for Freedom to President Chen. It also helped pave the way for Vice President Annette Lu to attend the organization's annual congress in Budapest, Hungary in 2003 and give a public speech at the gathering. President Chen said Liberal International clearly is concerned about developments related to Taiwan and commends the nation's progress in freedom and democracy based on its decision to hold so many important meetings on Taiwan in such a short time.
The president also noted that December 10 marks World Human Rights Day. On that morning, he will specially attend the opening ceremonies of the Ching-mei Human Rights Memorial Park. The park is being created from a former detention center and military court dating back to the Martial Law era on Taiwan. In addition to the formal opening of the human rights park, the president said that the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, which previously has represented an era of authoritarianism on Taiwan, is now known as the Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall. In addition, the previous Chinese characters on the gate to the memorial have been changed to "Liberty Square." The memorial area re-opened on Monday. The president said this marks an important moment in history, adding that the occasion has even more meaning since he is able to meet with President Alderdice of Liberal International, which is an organization that represents freedom and democracy. The president took the occasion to again welcome President Alderdice to Taiwan and thank him for his past work.
President Alderdice lauded President Chen and the many others for their selfless efforts in working to implement democracy on Taiwan. He said this is precisely the reason that Liberal International bestowed its Freedom Prize on President Chen. He also praised the president for his outstanding achievements in defending human rights and promoting democracy. He said President Chen's efforts have served as a beacon for others throughout the world in promoting democracy.
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Elizabeth Y. F. Chu accompanied Liberal International President Alderdice and the organization's Secretary-General Emil Kirjas to meet with the president. Also in attendance was Deputy Secretary-General to the President Lin Chia-lung.