(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-15 17:33

BEIJING  -- The governments of Iceland and Bulgaria said Friday that they are against the Taiwan authorities' plan to hold a referendum on UN membership in the name of Taiwan, reiterating their adherence to the One-China policy.

"We believe that a planned referendum on joining the United Nations in the name of Taiwan would be a mistake and therefore cannot support it," Iceland's Foreign Minister Ingibjoerg Solrun Gisladottir told Xinhua in an interview.

"Such a referendum would risk increased tension and instability in the region," she said.

Gisladottir added that her country, which established diplomatic relations with China in 1971, will continue to stick to the One-China policy.

She also expressed her satisfaction with the development of Iceland-China ties, saying there are broad prospects for further cooperation between the two nations.

Bulgarian First Deputy Foreign Minister Lyubomir Kyuchukov said his country has grave concern over Taiwan authorities' attempt to hold a referendum on UN membership.

At a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria Zhang Wanxue, Kyuchukov reiterated Bulgaria's opposition to the move.

He emphasized Bulgaria's stance that there is but one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, saying the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China.

On January 9, the Bulgarian foreign ministry already expressed opposition to the Taiwan authorities' referendum plan.