Houston Community News >> Taiwan President Chen
3/28/2008 (Taipei Times)-- President Chen
Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday said that the transfer of power would be
smooth and expressed his intention to meet with president-elect Ma Ying-jeou
(馬英九) before his inauguration.
Chen made the remarks when he received American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman Raymond Burghardt at the Presidential Office yesterday morning.
"The only thing and the most important thing" Chen would do in the two months leading up to Ma's inauguration on May 20 was to "make sure that the transfer of power proceeds smoothly," the president said.
"I know that people have some worries about what may happen during the next two months, but the world can rest assured that Taiwan will remain a democratic and free nation over the next two months and I will transfer power to the next administration smoothly," he said.
Burghardt congratulated Chen on carrying out a fair election, an election that "represents the great testimony to Taiwan's democracy."
The Central Election Commission yesterday officially declared Ma and vice president-elect Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) the winners of last Saturday's election.
"[Following the announcement,] we will take the initiative in contacting Ma's staff. And if his schedule allows, we hope to arrange a meeting with him next week," Chen said.
At a separate setting yesterday, Ma said he would be more than happy to meet Chen in response to the president's remarks.
Ma said his aides would arrange the details of the meeting.
In an interview with the Chinese-language United Evening News published yesterday, Ma was asked about his position on a possible amnesty for Chen after he takes over the presidency on May 20.
First lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) and Chen's former aides were indicted by prosecutors in 2006 for alleged embezzlement and forgery related to the president's special allowance fund.
Ma said in the interview that he would respect the judicial procedure and would not consider the matter until any case is concluded.
Chen, who enjoys constitutional immunity from prosecution, has not been indicted.
Meanwhile, at an afternoon press conference, Burghardt sidestepped a question from the Taipei Times on how he thought that Washington's relations with Taiwan might improve under the Ma administration.
The AIT official said only that good relations between countries involve honesty, making and keeping promises and no "nasty surprises."
Burghardt went on to say that another mark of good relations was that "each thinks how its actions might affect the interest of the other side before it takes such an action."
Burghardt also said yesterday that Washington was considering several prominent figures to serve as a special envoy to the presidential inauguration.
The final decision on who to send will depend largely on the availability of those being considered, he said.
More prominent figures may have a hard time carving four days out of their schedule to attend the event, he said.
Washington is also considering whether or not to allow Ma to visit the US prior to taking office, he said, referring to Ma's request made earlier this week during a meeting with AIT Director Stephen Young.
Chen made the remarks when he received American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman Raymond Burghardt at the Presidential Office yesterday morning.
"The only thing and the most important thing" Chen would do in the two months leading up to Ma's inauguration on May 20 was to "make sure that the transfer of power proceeds smoothly," the president said.
"I know that people have some worries about what may happen during the next two months, but the world can rest assured that Taiwan will remain a democratic and free nation over the next two months and I will transfer power to the next administration smoothly," he said.
Burghardt congratulated Chen on carrying out a fair election, an election that "represents the great testimony to Taiwan's democracy."
The Central Election Commission yesterday officially declared Ma and vice president-elect Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) the winners of last Saturday's election.
"[Following the announcement,] we will take the initiative in contacting Ma's staff. And if his schedule allows, we hope to arrange a meeting with him next week," Chen said.
At a separate setting yesterday, Ma said he would be more than happy to meet Chen in response to the president's remarks.
Ma said his aides would arrange the details of the meeting.
In an interview with the Chinese-language United Evening News published yesterday, Ma was asked about his position on a possible amnesty for Chen after he takes over the presidency on May 20.
First lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) and Chen's former aides were indicted by prosecutors in 2006 for alleged embezzlement and forgery related to the president's special allowance fund.
Ma said in the interview that he would respect the judicial procedure and would not consider the matter until any case is concluded.
Chen, who enjoys constitutional immunity from prosecution, has not been indicted.
Meanwhile, at an afternoon press conference, Burghardt sidestepped a question from the Taipei Times on how he thought that Washington's relations with Taiwan might improve under the Ma administration.
The AIT official said only that good relations between countries involve honesty, making and keeping promises and no "nasty surprises."
Burghardt went on to say that another mark of good relations was that "each thinks how its actions might affect the interest of the other side before it takes such an action."
Burghardt also said yesterday that Washington was considering several prominent figures to serve as a special envoy to the presidential inauguration.
The final decision on who to send will depend largely on the availability of those being considered, he said.
More prominent figures may have a hard time carving four days out of their schedule to attend the event, he said.
Washington is also considering whether or not to allow Ma to visit the US prior to taking office, he said, referring to Ma's request made earlier this week during a meeting with AIT Director Stephen Young.
(Contributed by Taipei Times)