The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's decision to put an end to the 'National Unification Council' and the application of its guidelines as unhelpful to ensuring regional peace and stability.
 
Russia is closely following the situation in the Taiwan Straits and believes Chen's move "runs counter" to his own earlier pledges, ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said.

He said Russia would not change its stance on the Taiwan question, adding that the position had been expressly stated in the Russian-Chinese Treaty of Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation signed in July 2001.

Regarding the Taiwan leader's recent secessionist remarks, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement last month that their position on the Taiwan question had been consistent—there's only one China in the world and Taiwan forms part of it.

The statement said Russia opposed 'Taiwan independence' in any form and did not accept "two Chinas" or "one China and one Taiwan."

The European Union (EU) Wednesday also expressed concern over Chen's latest secessionist move.

"The EU attaches great importance to the peace and stability of the Taiwan Straits,". said a statement by Austria on behalf of the EU. Austria currently holds the rotating EU presidency. "This is important to the region and beyond," the statement said.
 
"It (the EU) encourages both sides to take initiatives aimed at promoting dialogue, practical cooperation and confidence-building," added the statement.

Bulgaria reaffirms its constant and clear "one China" standpoint -- that Taiwan is a part of China and the government represents the unique legal standpoint of the of the Chinese nation.

In an official statement on late Wednesday, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said that  Bulgaria had serious concerns over the decision of Chen Shui-bian, who has terminated the activities of the "National Unification Council" and canceled "the leading principles for reunification" which were drawn-up 15 years ago.

"This act is an unilateral operation, which does not contribute to the peace, stability and security in the region of the Taiwan Straits," the Ministry said.

Bulgaria stands by the repeated declared principle for the peaceful reunification of China and Taiwan within the formula of "one country, two systems", which must come to pass through dialogue and negotiation, concluded the statement.

In another development, Joannis Theophanopoulos, head of the Asian and Oceanian Department of the Greek Foreign Ministry, strongly opposed and condemned Chen for his act which had "destroyed the dialogue between Taiwan and the mainland and damaged the one-China policy."

He stressed that Chen's move was "a surprise to the European Union and Greece." He said, "We believe that this act can destabilize the status quo of the area -- we think it is a provocative act," he said.

The official said that destabilization of the area was "against the interests of the EU and Greece."

"We also believe that the unilateral act to change the status quo is against the interests of Taiwan," he added. He called on Chen Shui-bian to stop his unilateral act and continue to honor his commitment of maintaining the status quo. We urge Chen to reconsider his decision," he said.

During a meeting Wednesday with Chinese Ambassador to Mali Wei Wenhua, Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Moctar Ouane criticized Chen saying that the Taiwan leader has moved further "down the road" in seeking "Taiwan independence" and would gravely endanger peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits. These reports came from Mali's capital Bamako.

The Malian government firmly believes that China can achieve peaceful reunification through the efforts of the Chinese government and people, said the minister.

Mali will continue to adhere to the one-China principle and support the Chinese government and people in their fight against Chen's secessionist moves, Ouane commented. 

(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2006)