FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 29, 2004

Contact: John Reid

Director of Communications

202-224-4746

ALLEN LAUDS COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF BILL TO GRANT TAIWAN 'OBSERVER STATUS' IN THE WHO

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator George Allen (R-VA) praised the Foreign Relations Committee's passage of his resolution in support of Taiwan receiving 'observer status' in the World Health Organization's (WHO) upcoming World Health Assembly meeting, which is set to take place next month. The bill, which has already passed in the House, will now move to the full Senate for consideration.

"As Co-Chairman of the Senate Taiwan Caucus, I am pleased to again lend support in an effort to grant WHO 'observer status' to Taiwan," Allen said. "Taiwan has one of the most modern health infrastructures in the world and I believe that the entire world health community will benefit greatly from its continued participation at the World Health Assembly."

Senator Allen's legislation calls on the Secretary of State to endorse and obtain 'observer status' for Taiwan at the week-long summit of the 2004 World Health Assembly, which will be held this May, in Geneva, Switzerland. The bill includes a multi-year provision that stipulates that the U.S. will continue to endorse 'observer status' for Taiwan in future years.

"Taiwan has one of the highest life expectancy levels in Asia and a population larger than three-fourths of the existing members of the WHO," Allen said. "It would be tantamount to medical malpractice to exclude Taiwan from participation in the assessment, treatment and cure of the world's dangerous diseases."