President Lee Teng-hui this morning receives Mr. Carlos Alberto Garcia Regas, president of the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala, who is on an 8-day visit to the ROC.
First of all, President Lee expresses his congratulations on the signing of an eternal peace accord last December between the Guatemalan government and the rebels to put an end to the 36-year civil war.
Defying Beijing's obstruction, the Guatemalan government invited ROC Foreign Minister John Chang to attend the accord-signing ceremony. “It symbolizes the solid ties between the two countries,”President Lee says.
President Lee also appreciates Guatemala's longtime and strong support for the ROC in the international community. “The Republic of China very much values her friendship with Guatemala and will assist it in various national constructions for enhancing the well-being of Guatemalan people after the civil disturbance is ended,” he emphasizes.
During the meeting, President Garcia expresses his gratitude for the ROS's longtime assistance to his country in various fields. "After finishing the decades-long disturbance, Guatemala will engage in the task of nation-building but extremely needs other countries' assistance, especially from the ROC," notes he.
Meanwhile, President Garcia reiterates that Guatemala will continue to support the ROC's bid to rejoin the United Nations.
Having being occupied with domestic affairs, President Lee was unable to attend Guatemalan President Alvaro Enrique Arzu Irigoyen's inaugural ceremony in January 1996. We therefore asks President Garcia to extend his best wishes to President Arzu after returning home.
Accompanied by ROC Vice Foreign Minister Francisco H. L. Ou, President Garcia comes to the Office of the President for the meeting. Dr. Ding Mou-shih, secretary-general of the ROC National Security Council, is also present.