Previous Story
Solomons embassy in Taiwan cut off
|
Posted on Nov 02 2000
Honiara (Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation/PINA Nius Online) – Phone and fax lines to the Solomon Islands Embassy in Taipei, Republic of China (Taiwan), have been disconnected because of unpaid bills, it has been revealed.
Prime Minister Mannasseh Sogavare is expected to officially open the Embassy today after it was established in April this year.
Acting Foreign Secretary in the Department of Foreign Affairs, Tione Bugotu, confirmed to SIBC News that his department has been unable to contact the embassy because of the disconnection.
SIBC News further confirmed this yesterday when it rang the Embassy in Taipei in an attempt to get some information about the program for the Prime Minister’s visit.
Mr. Bugotu said the department had attempted to get the Department of Finance to pay the outstanding bills but it has not been possible because of the current cash flow problems.
However, Mr. Bugotu could not reveal the total of the unpaid telephone and fax bills.
SIBC understands the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) funded the initial establishment of the Embassy and paid a certain amount of money towards its operational costs.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has arrived in the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, for what Taiwan’s Central News Agency says is “a fence-mending week-long visit.”
While there, Mr. Sogavare will meet with Taiwan’s President Chen Shui-bian and call on his Taiwan counterpart Chang Chun-hsiung, Foreign Minister Tien Hung-mao, and other government officials.
The Honorary General Consul of the Solomon Islands in Taiwan, Wang Chin Shih-ying, hosted a dinner party in Mr. Sogavare’s honor.
Mr. Sogavare was scheduled to hold a press conference at the Solomon Islands Embassy in Taiwan to explain the purpose of his visit.
The Taipei-based news agency did not mention Mr. Sogavare’s intention of asking for about 300-million dollars to help fund his government’s commitment under the recently brokered Townsville Peace Agreement.
