U.S. and Taiwan (2006)

United States Department of Health & Human Services

REMARKS BY: Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Admiral John Agwunobi, Assistant Secretary for Health, and Dr. William Steiger, OGHA Director and Special Assistant to the Secretary for International Affairs

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PLACE: Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland

DATE: May 22, 2006

Transcript as Delivered: Press Availability with Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Admiral John Agwunobi, Assistant Secretary for Health, and Dr. William Steiger, OGHA Director and Special Assistant to the Secretary for International Affairs on U.S. Participation in the World Health Assembly

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Question: Mr. Secretary, in your personal letter to the Director General, Dr. Lee, you expressed very strong support for Taiwan's participation in the WHO. My question is: The Health Minister from Taiwan invited his counterpart from China to hold bilateral talks on issues related to epidemic prevention and control. I wonder if the US would try to facilitate or encourage such dialogue?

Secretary Leavitt: I'm unfamiliar with those arrangements, and I would just say my letter stands as it is.

Question: A follow-up to my colleague's question and then I have another question. How would you handle today the issue of Taiwan?

Two, how will you come to the rescue of the Palestinian and Iraqi people?

Secretary Leavitt: With respect first of all to again the issue of the relationship to Taiwan, I think my letter was very clear in stating the position of the United States and the letter stands on its own.

With respect to your second question, that's a matter I would prefer was handled by our State Department. It's not within my portfolio.

Question: [Inaudible?]

Secretary Leavitt: We would be coordinating with the State Department on that issue.

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