Steve Kuo, director-general of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) under the Cabinet-level Department of Health (DOH) , made the remarks after confirming that the WHO Secretariat has agreed to Taiwan's integration into the WHO-sponsored International Health Organization (IHR) , a legal framework for global infectious disease control.

The CDC received a letter from Bernard P. Kean, a top aide of WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, Jan. 13 in which the WHO agreed to bring Taiwan under the umbrella of the IHR.

Acting on the Executive Yuan's instruction, Kuo wrote to the WHO Secretariat Thursday expressing appreciation for its decision to admit Taiwan into the IHR mechanism.

In the letter, Kuo went on, he also clearly reiterated Taiwan's desire to become a WHA observer.

"Our goal of having our delegates attend the annual WHA conference as observers remains unchanged," Kuo said.

A senior official who spoke on condition of anonymity said that although the WHO's decision to accept Taiwan's participation in the IHR mechanism reflects goodwill toward Taiwan and marks a positive development in Taiwan's bid to secure access to the WHA as an observer, Taiwan must still make it clear that the country has not given up its ultimate goal of securing observer status in the world health regulatory body's decision-making organization.

In his letter to the WHO Secretariat, Kuo said, he also mentioned that Taiwan looks forward to sending personnel to the WHO headquarters in Geneva to discuss technical details related to Taiwan's participation in IHR operations.

According to Kuo, Keam addressed him as "director-general of the CDC of Taipei." In his return letter, however, Kuo referred to himself as "director-general of the CDC of Taiwan." Diplomatic sources also said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will brief major countries which are concerned about Taiwan's WHA participation on the government's stance on the issue through diplomatic channels.

(By Sofia Wu)