Taiwan Communiqué No. 72, October 1996

European Parliament adopts Resolution on Taiwan

On 17 July 1996, the European Parliament adopted with a large majority a resolution on the role of Taiwan in the international organizations. Parties across the political spectrum adopted the Resolution, with only the leftist and communist parties voting against.

On 11 September 1996, members of the U.S. House of Representatives introduced a Resolution in the U.S. Congress endorsing the European Resolution. The U.S. Resolution was expected to be passed by the full House on 24 September 1996.

Taiwan Communiqué commends the European Parliament on this important first step in the direction of accepting Taiwan as a full and equal member of the international community. Now the European Commission and the governments of the member states of the European Union need to follow suit and start a new policy in support of Taiwan's entry into international organizations, including the UN.

The text of the European Resolution is as follows:

On Taiwan's role in international organizations

The European Parliament, having regard to Article J.7 of the Treaty on European Union,

A. Satisfied with the current state of Taiwan's democracy and Taiwan's respect for the principles of justice, human rights and fundamental freedom,

B. welcoming the fact that the elections in Taiwan were conducted democratically and peacefully despite the overt aggression and provocation by the People's Republic of China,

C. Having regard to Taiwan's wish to participate in international aid to developing countries,

D. Having regard to the significance of developments in the political situation in Taiwan for the whole of East Asia at a geopolitical and economic level and in terms of a policy of stability, security and peace in the Western Pacific region,

E. Welcoming the attitude of reconciliation displayed by President Lee Teng-hui towards the People's Republic of China and looking forward to a dialogue spanning both sides of the Taiwan Straits,

F. Convinced that the people of Taiwan ought to be better represented in international organizations than they are at present, which would benefit both Taiwan and the whole of the international community,

G. Whereas neither the European Union nor any of its Member States have diplomatic relations with the Government of Taiwan, recognizing only the People's Republic of China,

H. Whereas Taiwan is very important to the European Union and its Member States as a trade partner,

I. Whereas it is important for the European Union and its Member States to develop their relations with the governments of both the People's Republic of China and Taiwan in an amicable and constructive spirit,

J. Urging the governments of the People's Republic of China and Taiwan to intensify their cooperation,

K. Stressing that participation by Taiwan in certain international organizations can assist with finding common ground between China and Taiwan and facilitate reconciliation between the two sides,

L. Regretting the fact that Taiwan at present is prevented from making a full contribution to the United Nations and its agencies, and stressing that, for the efficiency of the UN, Taiwan's participation would be desirable and valuable,

1. Urges: (a) the Council and Member States to support Taiwan's attempts to secure better representation than it currently enjoys in international organizations in the fields of human and labour rights, economic affairs, the environment and development cooperation following the precedent of certain cases, known to international law, of countries recognized as independent and sovereign even though the nature of their diplomatic connections and the person of then head of state did not display the full symbolic panoply of complete sovereignty (e.g. Her Britannic Majesty's Dominions, American Samoa, or, until recently, the Ukraine and Belarus);

(b) the Council and Member States to ask the United Nations to investigate the possibility of setting up a UN working group to study the possibility for Taiwan to participate in the activities of bodies answerable to the UN General Assembly;

(c) the Council and Member States to encourage the governments of the People's Republic of China and Taiwan to intensify their cooperation in a constructive and peaceful spirit;

(d) the Council to Urge the Commission to adopt measures with a view to opening a European Union information office in Taipei;

2. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and to the Commission.

Taiwan on the Internet

During the past few months, we have expanded our Internet homepage, which was set up jointly in January 1996 by Taiwan Communiqué in cooperation with three other Taiwanese organizations in the United States, the Center for Taiwan International Relations (CTIR), the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), and the DPP Mission in the United States, all located in the Washington D.C. area.

If you haven't visited us yet, come and drop in at our homepage at URL:

http://www.taiwandc.org

We have many pages with a broad range of information on Taiwan, including the "Enter-the-UN" campaign, current events, Taiwan's history, links to other Taiwanese organizations, culture and folklore, and much more.

Culture, Festivals and Folk Stories

The new pages on our Internet homepage also include a number of folk stories of Taiwan, such as the Legend of Sun-Moon Lake, the Legend of Muddy River, the story of Half-faced Mountain, the Lake of the Sisters and Three Brothers, the Legend of the Little Frog in the Well, and the Tigress Witch.

"Half-faced Mountain" near Kaohsiung

These and other stories, as well as a series of descriptions of festivals in Taiwan, were originally published by the Houston Taiwanese School of Languages and Culture. The two publications, "Folk Stories of Taiwan" and "Festivals in Taiwan" together cost only US$ 10.-- and can be ordered from: HTSLC, c/o Mrs. Mei Tseng, 7511 Coachwood Drive, Houston, TX 77071, faxnumber: (713) 495-3940.

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