For immediate release                                                                       February 25, 2004

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE: "VAST MAJORITY OF U.S.

CONGRESS SUPPORTS REFERENDUM."

In a February 25 statement, Rep. Peter Deutsch (D-FL) -currently running for the United States Senate- states that he openly supports a referendum during the March 20 elections in Taiwan.

But -according to the Congressman- not only he himself supports it. Deutsch says: "The vast majority of the United States Congress is very supportive of the actions of the Taiwanese Government in terms of putting a referendum on the ballot regarding the defense options that Taiwan has. The vast majority of the American people support the actions of the Taiwan Government as well."

Deutsch continues:  "Taiwan is an independent country. As an independent country, it has the right to determine its own future. The United States has supported that right continuously."

Deutsch concludes: "Let me be absolutely clear that I urge every eligible person on the island of Taiwan to participate in the referendum [...]. The worst thing that people can do is to waste their vote. Do not waste your vote by not participating in the election."

FAPA President Ming-chi Wu, Ph.D. says: "Several Members of Congress have issued statements in support of a referendum in March, but Congressman Deutsch's statement is the clearest and most powerful one thus far. Rep. Deutsch's comments are very timely and encouraging.

Wu continues: "Although the two questions in the March 20 referendum are very relevant, holding a referendum on the question of Taiwan's sovereignty should be the next logical step."

【FAPA 新聞稿】                                                                        【2004年2月25日】

Contact: Iris Ho at 202-547-3686

 美眾議員：「絕大多數美國議員支持公民投票」

 有意角逐佛羅里達州參議員席次，現任佛州第二十選區的眾議員多義奇(Peter Deutsch, D-FL於今日發表聲明，公開表示他全力支持台灣即將在三月舉行的公民投票與總統選舉。多義奇議員在聲明中表示：「大多數的美國國會議員非常支持台灣政府就提昇台灣防禦系統一事訴諸公投表決。而大多數的美國民眾也相當支持台灣政府的決定。」

多義奇議員繼續表示：「台灣是一個主權獨立國家，身為一個主權獨立的國家，他有權利決定自己的前途。美國一直以來是支持這樣民主權利的行使。」

多義奇議員最後表示：「讓我再次大聲呼籲每一位在台灣擁有投票權的選民，不要放棄你神聖的一票…最糟糕的就是浪費那寶貴的一票。不要拒絕參與此次公投的選舉而虛擲你們寶貴的一票。」

FAPA會長吳明基表示：「繼日前數位參、眾議員發表國會聲明支持台灣三月份的公民投票後，多義奇議員今日支持公投的聲明可以說是比過去數位議員更清楚、有力。」

FAPA會長吳明基繼續表示：「這份堅定支持台灣民主與台灣公投的聲明來得正是時候，也令人備感欣慰。下個月的公投所涵蓋的兩個議題是相當中肯與適當的，三月份台灣人民首次公投的舉行，可預見地將為未來透過公民投票決定台灣主權地位而舖路。」