Costa Rica Fully Supports Taiwan's UN Bid
Costa Rica staunchly supports Taiwan's bid to join the United Nations because the rights of Taiwan's 23 million people should be respected by all countries, visiting Costa Rican President Abel Pacheco said Monday.

Commenting on Taiwan's renewed efforts this year in its bid to join the UN - including urging the UN to reconsider the issue of Taiwan's representation and asking the UN to play an active role in the Taiwan Strait issue - Pacheco said that Costa Rica supports and will speak for Taiwan on every possible occasion to facilitate Taiwan's UN bid.

During an exclusive interview with the Central News Agency (CNA) in Taiwan, Pacheco, who arrived in Taipei Friday mainly to attend the inaugural ceremony for the Democratic Pacific Union (DPU) Sunday, said that Costa Rica will fully support Taiwan in its unswerving resolve to pursue peace, democracy and an identity for its people.

On the development of thorny cross Taiwan Strait relations, Pacheco said that the best scenario is that the two sides resolve their differences through dialogue and negotiations.

Pacheco added that although Costa Rica has no right to interfere in other country's legislation, such as Beijing's passage of its Anti-Secession Law, which legalizes "non-peaceful means" should Taiwan move toward formal independence, he will try his utmost to help Taiwan.

In the face of stronger voices in his country's business sector calling for Costa Rica's closer economic and trade ties with China, Pacheco said that the Costa Rican government has remained firm in its position. "So far, Costa Rica-China relations have been restricted in economy and trade and it is impossible, at least presently, that Costa Rica will establish formal diplomatic relations with China," he reiterated.

Meanwhile, Pacheco noted, Costa Rica and Taiwan have begun to talk about signing a free trade agreement (FTA) . Nevertheless, he pointed out, these efforts should be made in a prudent and even calculating manner to make the agreement as perfect as possible.

A Taiwan-Costa Rica FTA could also cover not only economic and trade affairs, but also encompass exchanges in the fields of humanities, sciences and arts, Pacheco added.

Pacheco signed a joint communique with President Chen Shui-bian Sunday, reaffirming their commitment to further promoting exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. The two heads of state said in the joint communique that the Republic of China and Costa Rica will further expand cooperation in medical services, health care, education, and technological and economic development based on their 60-year friendship.