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April 14, 2007
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| Seoul and Washington yesterday finalized the return of 14 U.S. military bases to Korea but the agreement finds Seoul agreeing to shoulder as much as 40 billion won ($42 million) for the necessary environmental clean-up of the military installations. A total of 18 bases, including four that already have been returned, are now back in Seoul’s hands while negotiations for the return of the remaining 41 bases continues. Under an agreement with Washington called the Land Partnership Plan, the United States will return 59 bases to South Korea by 2011. Until now, Seoul and Washington have been at odds over how to split the cost related to the environmental cleaning process. Choi Hong-jin, an official with the Environment Ministry estimated yesterday that the total cleaning bill, depending on the land’s future usage, could range anywhere from 9 billion won to 40 billion won, mostly for soil damaged by toxic waste associated with military activity. “The Defense Ministry will use a government budget for the clean-up cost and then consult with provincial governments on how to use the available land,” said the official. Last June the ministry estimated that the clean-up cost of 29 bases that had already been surveyed would range from 27.9 billion won to 128 billion won. Nevertheless, experts have estimated that the total clean-up cost of all 59 bases could be as high as 400 billion won. A government official said yesterday that the conditions for the return of the bases were agreed to out of concern for the national interest. “It’s true that we have to shoulder the clean-up cost, but this is a result of considering the alliance with Washington,” said the official. Civic groups such as Green Korea United criticized the government yesterday for giving in to Washington on the issue. “The U.S. soldiers have left and they left Korea a lot of waste. This should not serve as an example for other bases to be returned in the future. U.S. forces need to be asked clearly to take responsibility,” said the organization in a statement. By Brian Lee Staff Writer/ Kang Chan-su JoongAng Ilbo [africanu@joongang.co.kr] |
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