WHO assembly rejects Taiwan bid for observer status

[Treyfish]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class="padlrt8 blue verdana10" vAlign=center>May 20, 2008</TD><TD class="padlrt8 blue verdana10" vAlign=center align=right>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=padlrt8 colSpan=2><!-- headline one : start --><!-- headline one : end -->WHO assembly rejects Taiwan bid for observer status
</TD></TR><TR><TD class="georgia11 padcell8" colSpan=2><!-- more than 7 paragraphs --><!-- story content : start -->GENEVA - THE World Health Organisation's (WHO) assembly again rejected Taiwan's bid for observer status, declaring that mainland China had responsibility for health issues affecting the island's 23 million people.
The decision, taken on the opening day of the WHO's six-day annual meeting on Monday, was the 12th year in a row that the United Nations agency had rebuffed Taiwan's campaign.
Taiwan, a self-governing island that China regards as a breakaway province, has said its exclusion from the 193-member state agency undermines international efforts to fight diseases such as bird flu. Gambia's delegate called on the assembly to invite Taiwan to participate as an observer.
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'The organisation's continued refusal to have direct dealings with the Taiwan health authorities will not only damage the health rights of the people in Taiwan but may also lead to a gap in the global health system,' he said.
Beijing had transmitted only 16 of the 232 WHO communications on health events to Taiwan authorities in the past year, according to Gambia.
<!-- show media links starting at 7th para -->But China's Health Minister Chen Zhu, stressing links with the island, said current arrangements fully satisfied the medical and health needs of China's 'inseparable flesh brothers and sisters' in Taiwan.
The United States delegation, led by Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt, issued a statement saying it had long supported observer status for Taiwan in the assembly. A proposal to drop the agenda item calling on Taiwan to be given observer status was adopted without a vote as part of a behind-the-scenes deal to give the issue an airing without devoting too much time to it.

'The reason that no one objected is that we all know what the outcome is,' said one diplomat. The assembly has a built-in majority against Taiwan, which draws support only from a couple of dozen small countries mainly in Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific, plus the United States. Taiwan is a member of the 152-nation World Trade Organisation but is excluded from most other international bodies because of Beijing's one-China policy. -- REUTERS :tiphat: http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2...ry_239202.html<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

 

[Snowy Owl]

Re: WHO assembly rejects Taiwan bid for observer status

From a regional perspective there is a distinct way to contemplate and resolve this issue.

I come from a 7 millions people province (Québec) that is huge (but a minority) under the international juridiction of a bigger country of 32 millions people (Canada).

Canada has a better proportional ratios toward Québec on Health matter than China towards Taïwan, but it is not comparable to Canadian provinces not trying to get more autonomy.

We have developped with regional partners informal and formal agreements that assures all that we will get the infos.

The same way I come from a region (High Laurentians) that is within Québec, we are a minority (Algonquins), and altough Québec has a better proportional ratios towards High Laurentians on Health matter than Canada towards Québec, it is not comparable to regions that do not seek more governmental autonomy.

We have replicate with regional partners informal and formal agreements that assures all that we will get the infos.

WHO cannot be a National endorser, its Mission is Health.

It might be the time for WHO to allow the creation of a Regional Assembly constitute of minorities in a Regional framework.

First, efficient monitering of diseases implies a formal and informal collaboration from all those Regions.

Second, efficient responses for containment of diseases require a formal and informal agreement with the Regions.

If such a Dao, Pantha, Path, Road would be on the horizon, the Global Health would be better served, prepared and able to respond.

Without crossing the line of National Policies, the nomination of a Regional Coordinnator of a Regional Assembly, would be a move towards a more efficient World Wide System of Public Health.

Snowy