Culture Minister Quizzed on Russian Soprano 俄國女高音來台演出惹議 史哲:需多考量

Culture Minister Shih Che is seeking to expand eligibility for the Ministry of Culture's cash gifts to people up to 21 years of age, although students born between September and December 2001 are excluded. The minister attended a legislative interpellation on March 2 and said the usage will also be expanded. He was also asked by legislators about Anna Netrebko's incident, who was supposed to perform on March 5 but was cancelled by Taiwan's National Symphony Orchestra due to public concerns.

Taiwan recently canceled a performance by Russian soprano Anna Netrebko over her personal friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. She had been invited to perform by the National Symphony Orchestra. Legislators asked Culture Minister Shih Che about this issue during an interpellation on March 2.

Huang Kuo-shu, Legislator (Ind.): “Why would they invite Putin's good friend? She was even on a sanction list issued by Ukraine's Ministry of Culture and Information Policy. I hope when it (the National Performing Arts Center) is making related decisions, it will take time to consider the confidence the people have in it. ”
Shih Che, Culture Minister: “A decision on whether to cancel or not is taken by the National Performing Arts Center.”

Chen Hsiu-pao, Legislator (DPP): “It's very much having no choice and also we don't want this kind of thing to happen. However, how can we avoid it from happening again?”
Shih Che, Culture Minister: “ Whether it's performing arts invitations or exhibition collaborations, it all takes a lot of time with advanced preparations, so at the moment when a decision is made, there should be a related evaluation.”

The minister was at the legislature to deliver a report on a stimulus plan, but was asked about this incident and 228. Since taking office, he has sought to hand out cash gifts to people aged 18 to 21. Legislators asked him why students born between September and December 2001 are excluded.

Wan Mei-ling, Legislator (KMT): “They're from the same year and they were also affected by the pandemic, so why are those (students) born between September and December 2001 unable to enjoy this cash gift? ”
Shih Che, Culture Minister: “I apologize and I'm sorry, but it was unintentional while we were seeking to quickly obtain the budget. We really didn't mean to cause this kind of harm.”

The minister admitted that students born during these three months were omitted inadvertently. Expenditures are roughly estimated at NT$80 million. The minister said their feelings will be taken into consideration and eligibility expanded. The gifts are scheduled to be handed out in June during the graduation season once the legislature passes the third reading of the related stimulus budget.

被外界認為，和俄羅斯總統蒲亭私交甚篤的女高音安娜．涅翠布柯，因為受國家交響樂團邀請來台引發討論。雖然最終演出取消，但依然是朝野立委關注焦點。

無黨籍立委黃國書指出：「怎麼會邀請一個蒲亭的好朋友，而且他是在烏克蘭文化部發布的一份制裁名單當中，我希望說，它（表藝中心）在做相關的決策，要特別考慮到整個國人對它的信任。」

文化部史哲回應：「決策取消與否這個是由國家表演藝術中心來（決定的）。」

民進黨籍立委陳秀寶問道：「都是非常不得已，也不願意有這樣事情發生，但是如何避免再發生？」

文化部史哲表示：「不管是表演藝術的邀請或者是展覽的合作，它都必須要很長時間的，這樣子的提早準備，所以在決策的當下，其實就應該要有相關的評估。」

文化部長史哲前往立法院進行文化部振興計畫的專案報告，先後被問到俄羅斯女高音及228紀念日等時事爭議。至於上任之後，爭取擴大為18至21歲發放的文化禮金，也被立委點出，2001年9月到12月出生的學生，會有邊緣人問題。

國民黨籍立委萬美玲提及：「就我們是同一屆的，我們也一樣在疫情當中受害，可是為什麼在2001年出生9月到12月的（學生），卻沒有辦法享有這個成年禮金。」

文化部史哲說道：「大家很抱歉、遺憾，但是我們確實是一個在快速爭取預算的狀況底下的，一個無心之過，我們確實是沒有心這個要造成這樣子的傷害。」

史哲坦言，遺漏這3個月出生的學生，確實是無心之過，粗估經費達8千萬元，會顧及他們的感受、擴大適用。而整體的文化振興計畫，會等相關預算在立院三讀後，配合學生的畢業季，預計6月發放。