Taipei Mission in the Republic of Latvia
Press Release
2023/05/15
The Latvian Parliament - Saeima and The Latvian Medical Association(LMA) have extended their support of Taiwan’s inclusion in the events, meetings, and mechanisms of the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as Taiwan’s meaningful participation in 76th World Health Assembly(WHA) scheduled to take place in late May in Geneva, Switzerland.
Sixteen members of the Latvia-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group of Saeima, spearheaded by Chairperson Ingrida Circene, jointly issued a letter addressed to WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on 11 May. The Group unequivocally supports Taiwan's participation in this year's WHA as an observer and all WHO meetings, activities, and mechanisms, by making compelling arguments that "enjoyment of highest attainable standard of health" is a fundamental human right recognized by both UN Charter and WHO Constitution, the importance of Taiwan and its proactive contribution to the global health care, and the basic right to health of Taiwan's 23 million people.
LMA President Dr. Ilze Aizsilniece wrote to WHO Director General Ghebreyesus on 19 April for the first time ever to highlight the importance and necessity for Taiwan’s inclusion in the global health community. In the letter Dr. Aizsilniece called on WHO to invite Taiwan to join this year's WHA as an observer and grant Taiwan an access to join all meetings, activities, and mechanisms under WHO. She indicated that Taiwan's excellent performance during the COVID-19 pandemic served as a good example for other countries and Taiwan's cooperation can have an important role in life-saving global health care initiatives.
We sincerely thank the Latvia-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group of Saeima and the Latvian Medical Association for their staunch supports for Taiwan's WHO campaign. As a force for good in the international community, Taiwan will continue to work with Latvia and other like-minded partners to advance global health and wellbeing.
