The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Taiwan
leader Chen Shui-bian's decision to put an end to the 'National
Unification Council' and the application of its guidelines as
unhelpful to ensuring regional peace and stability.
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Russia is closely following the situation in the Taiwan Straits and
believes Chen's move "runs counter" to his own earlier pledges,
ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said.
He said Russia would not change its stance on the Taiwan
question, adding that the position had been expressly stated in the
Russian-Chinese Treaty of Good Neighborliness, Friendship and
Cooperation signed in July 2001.
Regarding the Taiwan leader's recent secessionist remarks, the
Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement last month that their
position on the Taiwan question had been consistent—there's only
one China in the world and Taiwan forms part of it.
The statement said Russia opposed 'Taiwan independence' in any
form and did not accept "two Chinas" or "one China and one
Taiwan."
The European Union (EU) Wednesday also expressed concern over
Chen's latest secessionist move.
"The EU attaches great importance to the peace and stability of
the Taiwan Straits,". said a statement by Austria on behalf of the
EU. Austria currently holds the rotating EU presidency. "This is
important to the region and beyond," the statement said.
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"It (the EU) encourages both sides to take initiatives aimed at
promoting dialogue, practical cooperation and confidence-building,"
added the statement.
Bulgaria reaffirms its constant and clear "one China" standpoint
-- that Taiwan is a part of China and the government represents the
unique legal standpoint of the of the Chinese nation.
In an official statement on late Wednesday, the Bulgarian
Foreign Ministry said that? Bulgaria had serious concerns over
the decision of Chen Shui-bian, who has terminated the activities
of the "National Unification Council" and canceled "the leading
principles for reunification" which were drawn-up 15 years ago.
"This act is an unilateral operation, which does not contribute
to the peace, stability and security in the region of the Taiwan
Straits," the Ministry said.
Bulgaria stands by the repeated declared principle for the
peaceful reunification of China and Taiwan within the formula of
"one country, two systems", which must come to pass through
dialogue and negotiation, concluded the statement.
In another development, Joannis Theophanopoulos, head of the
Asian and Oceanian Department of the Greek Foreign Ministry,
strongly opposed and condemned Chen for his act which had
"destroyed the dialogue between Taiwan and the mainland and damaged
the one-China policy."
He stressed that Chen's move was "a surprise to the European
Union and Greece." He said, "We believe that this act can
destabilize the status quo of the area -- we think it is a
provocative act," he said.
The official said that destabilization of the area was "against
the interests of the EU and Greece."
"We also believe that the unilateral act to change the status
quo is against the interests of Taiwan," he added. He called on
Chen Shui-bian to stop his unilateral act and continue to honor his
commitment of maintaining the status quo. We urge Chen to
reconsider his decision," he said.
During a meeting Wednesday with Chinese Ambassador to Mali Wei
Wenhua, Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International
Cooperation Moctar Ouane criticized Chen saying that the Taiwan
leader has moved further "down the road" in seeking "Taiwan
independence" and would gravely endanger peace and stability across
the Taiwan Straits. These reports came from Mali's capital
Bamako.
The Malian government firmly believes that China can achieve
peaceful reunification through the efforts of the Chinese
government and people, said the minister.
Mali will continue to adhere to the one-China principle and
support the Chinese government and people in their fight against
Chen's secessionist moves, Ouane commented.?
(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2006)