BEIJING, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The governments of Iceland and Bulgaria said
Friday that they are against the Taiwan authorities' plan to hold a referendum
on U.N. membership in the name of Taiwan, reiterating their adherence to the
One-China policy.
"We believe that a planned referendum on joining the United Nations in the
name of Taiwan would be a mistake and therefore cannot support it," Iceland's
Foreign Minister Ingibjoerg Solrun Gisladottir told Xinhua in an interview.
"Such a referendum would risk increased tension and instability in the
region," she said.
Gisladottir added that her country, which established diplomatic relations
with China in 1971, will continue to stick to the One-China policy.
She also expressed her satisfaction with the development of Iceland-China
ties, saying there are broad prospects for further cooperation between the two
nations.
Bulgarian First Deputy Foreign Minister Lyubomir Kyuchukov said his country
has grave concern over Taiwan authorities' attempt to hold a referendum on U.N.
membership.
At a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria Zhang Wanxue, Kyuchukov
reiterated Bulgaria's opposition to the move.
He emphasized Bulgaria's stance that there is but one China in the world
and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, saying the government of the
People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the
whole of China.
On January 9, the Bulgarian foreign ministry already expressed opposition
to the Taiwan authorities' referendum plan.