Staunch support for Taiwan’s participation in the U.N. system shown by Republic of China (Taiwan) diplomatic allies during the world body’s recent General Assembly in New York is deeply appreciated by the government and people of Taiwan, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sept. 27.
A total of 17 diplomatic allies backed the nation’s meaningful participation in the U.N. system either through writing to its Secretary-General Antonio Guterres or speaking out during the annual gathering, the MOFA said.
According to the ministry, the countries are Belize, Burkina Faso, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Nicaragua, Palau, Paraguay, St. Christopher and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, Swaziland and Tuvalu.
In a joint letter to Guterres, 12 of the diplomatic allies urged the U.N. to include Taiwan in its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, arguing that the country’s exclusion runs counter to the principle of universality set forth in the U.N. Charter and the agenda’s goal of leaving no one behind. Three diplomatic allies also sent individual messages expressing similar sentiments on the matter.
In the letter, the diplomatic allies called on the U.N. to end discriminatory measures against ROC nationals preventing them from entering its premises or taking part in meetings and tours. Such measures are unacceptable and clearly violate the universal values of freedom and equal rights pursued by the world body, the diplomatic allies said.
Given the seriousness of global challenges and need to tackle these through a cohesive international partnership, the U.N. Secretariat is urged to include Taiwan in its system so the country can make a more meaningful contribution to advancing the well-being of mankind, the diplomatic allies added.
During the General Debate of the General Assembly, 15 diplomatic allies also made a strong case for Taiwan’s expanded engagement in the U.N. system.
The MOFA said this backing is sincerely appreciated by the government and people of Taiwan. It called on the U.N. to facilitate the inclusion of Taiwan in its system so all parties can work together in promoting the world body’s Sustainable Development Goals. (SFC-E)
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