|
Lee and Sohn do not settle issues
May 21, 2008
|
|
| Opposition leader Sohn Hak-kyu yesterday refused to support President Lee Myung-bak in getting the proposed free trade agreement with the United States ratified. Sohn was invited to the Blue House yesterday to talk with Lee. There were no breakthroughs. Presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said Lee asked Sohn, the chairman of the United Democratic Party, to show your leadership and deal with the FTA agreement before the National Assembly opens anew for new lawmakers elected last month. The beef deal made it hard for me to discuss the Korea-U.S. FTA, Sohn was quoted as saying. Sohn added that the president should apologize for the government s mishandling of the beef deal if he wants to quell public fears over mad cow disease. Lee was not enthusiastic about his request. When it s time, I will talk about it, he said. Lee also told Sohn that no beef from cows older than 30 months old will be imported. Importers, he said, have promised that they will not import such beef. A beef pact is also being negotiated between the U.S. and Japan as well as with Taiwan. I m sure that [the U.S.] will make a deal similar to ours. If not, we will request a revision in the pact, Lee said. There were moments when the two were sharply divided. Lee complained that Sohn was talking in too much detail about the beef matter as if I am a department head of a livestock bureau. But that s the key point, Sohn retorted. When Sohn continued, Lee stopped him, saying, Let me talk as well. During the two-hour meeting, the two men also discussed inter-Korean relations and Lee s pledge to build a cross-country canal. But no clear agreements were made. Sohn said that Lee should recognize the positive side of North Korean policies of former presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun. You seem to be trapped with the idea of your grand canal, Sohn said. Lee said there was no problem with the relationship with North Korea. To the comment over the canal, Lee admitted that he didn t communicate well enough with the public. Cha Young, the UDP spokeswoman, said it seemed that the president was listening for a change, while the Blue House spokesman, described the talks as pleasant. By Lee Min-a Staff Reporter [mina@joongang.co.kr] |
|
