Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

President Ma Ying-jeou met on the morning of June 18 with Jordan's Prince Mired Bin Raad Al-Hussein and Princess Dina Mired. During the discussions, the president said that he deeply respected the couple for the many years they have spent working for the clearing of lethal mines, as well as caring for underprivileged and disabled veterans.

The president stated that the prince is the President's Special Envoy on the Universalization of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, and that he has for many years travelled the world working for a ban on the deployment of lethal mines and seeking to clear mines that have already been laid. President Ma said that while Taiwan has still not joined this convention, six years ago it began working on the offshore island of Kinmen to clear former battlefields of mines. The president said that this work is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

President Ma furthermore explained that there have been times over the past 60 years when the ROC laid mines along the shore of Kinmen and Matsu. After the two sides of the Taiwan Strait began reconciliation, however, we began to clear the areas of mines, he said. In addition, last year during the nation's centenary, on the 53rd anniversary of the August 23 Artillery Battle a peace bell was inaugurated. At the time, Song Kosal, a Cambodian youth ambassador for the International Campaign to Ban Landmines who herself was injured by a landmine, was invited to the ceremony. During her stay here, She expressed her support for the mine clearing achievements of Taiwan.

Lastly, the president reiterated Taiwan's support for the campaign against landmines. He also stated his hope that the prince has a fruitful visit to Taiwan and that he will further understand the work that the ROC is doing to promote world peace, and gain a clearer picture of its successes in promoting mine clearing.

The prince and princess were accompanied to the Presidential Office by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Shen-Yeaw Ko (柯森耀) to meet with President Ma. Also attending the meeting was National Security Council Advisor Philip Y. M. Yang (楊永明).