The Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Government of the Republic of Nauru, being desirous of strengthening the friendship and close mutual cooperation between the two countries, have decided to restore their full diplomatic relations as of May 14, 2005. On behalf of the two countries, H.E. Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Tan Sun Chen and H.E. President Ludwig Scotty of Nauru have signed the Joint Communiqué on the Reestablishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Republic of Nauru at Minister Chen’s office at 10a.m. on May 14, officially restoring diplomatic relations between the two countries. Taiwan will immediately dispatch personnel to Yaren, capital of Nauru, to activate the establishment of our embassy to the Republic of Nauru in accordance with the Joint Communiqué.
President Scotty of the Republic of Nauru is a senior statesman who has been very friendly to Taiwan and shares with us the common ideals of freedom, democracy and human rights. The President was a member of the Asian Pacific Parliamentary Union (APPU), and served as Nauru’s Minister of Health. He has been deeply regretful about the mistake made by former Nauru President Rene Harris to unilaterally sever the diplomatic ties with Taiwan in July 2002, regardless of the long-time friendship between the two countries. President Scotty has firmly opposed the severance of diplomatic ties with us done by former President Harris. Since he was elected as the President of Nauru, President Scotty has repeatedly expressed his willingness to restore diplomatic and cordial ties with Taiwan on the basis of long standing cordial relations between the governments and peoples of the two countries.
The Republic of Nauru is located in the South Pacific Ocean near the equator, South of our ally the Republic of the Marshall Islands and North of the Solomon Islands. It has a land area of 21.3 square kilometer, an exclusive economic zone of 320,000 square kilometers, and a population of 12,800. The reestablishment of the diplomatic ties between the two countries will re-launch exchanges and cooperation in various fields, including culture, education, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, healthcare as well as aquaculture. Nauru is a member of the United Nations, the British Commonwealth, the World Health Organization, the Asian Development Bank, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Olympic Committee as well as other multilateral and regional organizations. President Scotty has assured that Nauru will firmly support Taiwan’s efforts to participate in the United Nations, the World Health Organization and other international and regional organizations after the reestablishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. （E）
