Nicaragua supports United Nations effort: Chen

Speaking during an informal gathering with a group of foreign correspondents in Nicaragua, Chen said Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has on many occasions expressed his support for Taiwan’s U.N. bid and its push to hold a referendum on the issue.

According to Chen, Ortega fully understands that the referendum promoted by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party on joining the United Nations is different from the one promoted by the opposition Kuomintang on “returning to” the world body.

Chen said that Ortega, as a pro-democracy fighter, is well aware of the Taiwan people’s aspiration and pursuit of democracy and that during a private meeting between the two of them, Ortega repeatedly encouraged him to continue pushing for the referendum and insisting on using the name Taiwan to join the United Nations.

On Ortega’s remarks that his country hopes to have formal diplomatic relations with both Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China, Chen said if Nicaragua were able to achieve the goal, it would be a big step forward.

Reiterating that he does not oppose “dual recognition,” Chen said Ortega would make a great contribution to the world that would make him deserving of a Nobel Peace Prize if he succeeded in the effort.

Chen stressed that both sides of the Taiwan Strait should seek a resolution to their differences based on the principles of sovereignty, democracy, peace and equality, calling on Beijing to accept the reality and status quo that Taiwan is a sovereign country and respect the choice of Taiwan’s 23 million people.

According to Chen, goodwill, reconciliation and cooperation are crucial for the achievement of lasting peace.

Chen pointed out that he has extended 30 to 50 olive branches to China over the past seven years but that regrettably, none have received a positive response from Beijing.

Noting that the main purpose of his Central America visit was to take part in the sixth leadership summit between Taiwan and its diplomatic allies in the region held Aug. 23 in Honduras, Chen said the summit became even more meaningful in the wake of Costa Rica’s switching of diplomatic recognition to Beijing in June.

While many are concerned that the severance of diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Costa Rica might result in a domino effect among Taiwan’s other diplomatic allies in the region, leaders of these Central American countries reaffirmed their support for Taiwan during the summit, according to Chen.

Nicaragua was the final leg of Chen’s three-nation trip which also took him to Honduras and El Salvador. He wrapped up the visit later Tuesday and departed for home. He was scheduled to make a short stopover in the U.S. state of Alaska en route back to Taiwan.

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