More allies voice support for Taiwan's inclusion in U.N. activities

New York, Sept. 28 (CNA) More countries which have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan voiced support on Friday, the fourth day of the general assembly of the United Nations, for Taipei to be allowed to take part in U.N. activities.

Speaking in the week-long debate session of the U.N. Assembly held in New York, prime ministers from Solomon Islands, Saint Lucia, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, three of Taiwan's 17 allies, urged the world organization to allow Taiwan to participate in U.N. specialized bodies, which they said would enhance the welfare of all human beings.

"Whilst we speak of leaving no one behind, we still close our doors to Taiwan and continue to contradict our own principles by leaving Taiwan's 23 million people behind," Solomon Prime Minister Ricky Nelson Houenipwela said during his speech in Friday's general debate.

In his more than 25-minute long speech, Houenipwela used much of the time to speak about his country's support for Taiwan.

"The implementation of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals of the U.N.) requires a unified global partnership. Taiwan is ready, willing and able to engage in and contribute to the wide range of substantive U.N. programmes for the welfare of humanity," the Solomon prime minister said.

"Solomon Islands continues to call for the participation of Taiwan in the United Nations' specialised bodies, including UNFCCC (the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)," he said.

Houenipwela said Taiwan is the 22nd largest economy in the world so the country is able to take advantage of its experience and technological capability to serve as part of the global solutions in various international frameworks and make a contribution.

"If we are to focus on shared responsibility and promote peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies, we must give Taiwan and its 23 million people a chance," Houenipwela said. "Despite the contributions of Taiwan towards the well-being of citizens of the globe, we continue to ignore the right of Taiwan to self-determination."

"The time has come for this august body to give due recognition to Taiwan as a legitimate member of the Family of Nations," he said.

Also voicing support for Taiwan in the debate session, Saint Lucia's Prime Minister Allen Michael Chastanet urged the U.N. to end restrictions on Taiwan's "legitimate aspirations" to participate as an observer in key international institutions, including the WHO, the ICAO, and the UNFCCC.

"This is as much for us as it is for them," Chastanet said.

In the debate session, Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, told the U.N. Assembly, the U.N. is a "people organization" for all of the people on the planet, including 23 million in Taiwan.

"We strongly believe Taiwan has an important and continuing role to play in international development strategies as they have had great success in technology, agriculture, health and renewable energy," Harris said. "We advocate that Taiwan be given space to add to the dialogue, progress and well being of the global community."

The general debate of the latest U.N. Assembly will run through Monday.