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UNGA 59, General Committee Meeting: Question of the representation of the twenty-three million people of Taiwan in the United Nations

Wednesday, 15 September 2004
Presenter: 
H.E. Mr. Alfred Capelle
Location: 
New York

Mr. Chairman,

At the outset, I wish to congratulate you on your election to the Presidency of the 59th session of the General Assembly.

 

Mr. Chairman,

As I have done in previous years, I am speaking here today in support of the request made by a group of Member States, including my own, to include an item on the General Assembly’s agenda regarding the question of the representation of the people of Taiwan in the United Nations.

 

The government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands once again reiterates it full support for the ongoing quest of the people of Taiwan to be permitted to participate in and contribute to the work of the United Nations.

 

Under Article 4 of the UN Charter, membership in the organization is open to all peace-loving states that accept the obligations of the Charter, and are able and willing to carry out these obligations. It is undeniable that Taiwan fulfills these criteria.

 

Taiwan is a peace-loving state, committed to the ideals of the United Nations, committed to the maintenance of international peace and security and respect for fundamental human rights. Taiwan has made it abundantly clear that it is ready and willing to accept and carry out the obligations of the UN Charter. Taiwan is also an active, constructive member of the international community. It has achieved internationally recognized progress in both economic and social development, and has long been willing to share its prosperity through various forms of international development assistance and humanitarian aid.

 

Mr. Chairman,

Taiwan is a sovereign state that maintains full diplomatic relations with 25 UN Member States. It is a thriving democratic society, with a population of some 23 million people that have democratically elected representatives to form a government. This government can be the only legitimate representative of the people of Taiwan in the United Nations.

 

There is no justification for the continued exclusion of a peace-loving, democratic state from membership in this organization. In fact, the exclusion of Taiwan from the UN contradicts the basic principles of universality and inclusiveness that underpin the Charter.

 

In our increasingly globalized world, where we face the threats posed by international terrorism, the maintenance of international peace and security requires the cooperation and participation of all states. Now more than ever, we must strive to ensure that this organization is truly representative of all peoples and inclusive of all nations.

 

Therefore, I urge all Member States to put their own political interests aside and to support the inclusion of this important item on our agenda. The issue has gone unaddressed for too long. It is time that we do justice for the 23 million people of Taiwan, to ensure that their interests can be fully represented in this global body.

 

Thank you Mr. Chairman.