Russia to play active role in inter-Korean rapprochement-lawmaker.

BRUSSELS, May 11 (Itar-Tass) - Russia intends to play an active role in the process of inter-Korean rapprochement, Itar-Tass learnt on Tuesday from deputy chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy Andrei Khazin.

He participates in the 11th World Korean Forum, now
in progress here.
"It's very symbolic that this forum opened right after the celebration
of the 65th anniversary of the Victory over Nazism," Khazin emphasised.
"Korea was occupied by one of aggressor states - Japan. This indirectly
influenced the division of the country. The topic of division now prevails
at the forum."
"The forum discusses practical steps on developing cooperation and
future of the two parts of Korea. Russia will be one of the main partners
in this process," the senator assured.
Khazin noted that economic and cultural relations between South Korea
and Russia are dynamically developing. "A joint project on erecting a
shipyard in the town of Bolshoi Kamen near Vladivostok to build ships for
carrying liquefied gas can be instanced as an example. "Such examples are
rising in numbers.
"It will be impossible to implement without Russia a very important
project of a transport corridor to link Korea and Europe."
Relations between the Korean states now "remain far from ideal. I'd
like to hope very much that they will improve in the near future", the
senator continued. "Taking into account the huge economic advantage and
geopolitical importance of this corridor, I believe that this project will
be translated into life in the foreseeable future," he noted.
Khazin claimed that Russia is historically one of the most important
partners of Korea. "The battle of the Varyag cruiser, memorable for every
Russian, took place precisely thanks to the fact that Russia was the
guarantor of Korea's independence at that time. Koreans well remember this
fact that Russian sailors were dying for Korea's independence over 100
years ago," he concluded.
-0-bur/gor