Taipei, April 30 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian recognized Dutch parliamentarian Hans van Baalen Tuesday for his contributions in promoting friendship and cooperation between Taiwan and the Netherlands.
The president bestowed the Order of Brilliant Star with Violet Grand Cordon on van Baalen. Attending the ceremony at the Presidential Office was van Baalen's wife, Netherlands Trade and Investment Office Representative S. K. Schuur, Secretary-General of the Presidential Office Chen Shih-Meng and others.
Van Baalen, who arrived here Monday for a four-day visit, said he was honored to receive the medal from the leader of democratic Taiwan, saying that Taiwan's democratic system has become more complete after its presidential election which saw the transfer of political power.
Van Baalen, who is also the vice chairman of Liberal International, a London-based federation of liberal political parties around the world, said that he met Chen, who was still a presidential candidate, in the Netherlands in 1999. After his election, however, Chen has been unable to visit other countries in the European Union, and has in effect lost his freedom to travel, which van Baalen said runs counter to the EU's idea of advancing human rights and freedoms.
Van Baalen said that EU countries should change their attitude so that leaders of democratic countries can enjoy the basic right of freedom of movement.
President Chen expressed his appreciation for Baalen's support for Taiwan and his promotion of the substantial relations between the two countries.
The president noted that in mid-March, the European Parliament passed a resolution to support Taiwan's bid into the World Health Organization, and that April 11 the EU also passed unanimously a resolution in which it supports lifting all restrictions on visits to Europe by the ROC president and high-ranking officials of the nation.
President Chen also said that it is regrettable that the president of a democratic country does not have the right of freedom of movement, and he hoped that the resolution could be put in practice soon through bilateral efforts.
The president also said that he recently accompanied Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo to Tainan in southern Taiwan, where the story of Cheng Cheng-kung took place. Cheng, also known as Koxinga, expelled the colonial Dutch from Taiwan in 1662.
He also attended the Cheng Cheng-kung cultural festival in Tainan and that from the historical relics, sensed the long-standing bonds between the Dutch and Taiwan.
The president said that Taiwan is now a major market of EU countries, and the Netherlands' largest market in Asia. He added that Taiwan's trade and economic cooperation with the Netherlands has room to grow, and van Baalen could serve as the best bridge.