Paris denies visa appeal for Chen

Paris denies visa appeal for Chen

TAIWAN: Foreign ministry said on Tuesday it had launched a last- ditch appeal after Paris denied President Chen Shui-bian a visa to collect a human rights award in Strasbourg.

Chen, who was elected president in April 2000, won last year's Liberal International Prize for Freedom for his "solid record as a human rights activist," and his efforts to normalize relations with Beijing "without compromising Taiwan's democratic achievements."

An earlier attempt by Liberal International to organize a ceremony in Denmark was aborted due to the long-standing Chinese position where Beijing opposes any foreign recognition of Taiwan, which it considers a renegade province.

Le Monde newspaper has reported Paris had agreed that Chen's wife could pick up the award in Strasbourg, but only on condition she did not pass through Paris and flew home immediately after the ceremony. --AFP