ID :
188155
Mon, 06/13/2011 - 12:22
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/188155
The shortlink copeid
Lee welcomes dialogue offer from opposition leader
(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with Lee's remarks; CHANGES headline)
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, June 13 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak on Monday welcomed the opposition leader's offer to hold rare one-on-one talks, a lawmaker said, setting the stage for the first such meeting in about three years, which is expected to focus on how to boost people's livelihood.
Sohn Hak-kyu, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), made the dialogue proposal earlier in the day, saying he wants to discuss a string of challenges the country faces, such as high college tuition costs, rising home rental prices and other pending issues.
"I propose an emergency meeting with the president to discuss the economy and people's livelihood," Sohn said at a party meeting. "I want to sit with the president to have sincere dialogue about crises faced by our society, our people, right now."
Initially, the presidential office gave a cautious reaction to the proposal, with senior presidential spokesman Kim Du-woo only saying that Cheong Wa Dae is "always open" to such talks, but at the same time calling for the opposition party to demonstrate "sincerity."
The response was seen as meaning that the presidential office could accept the meeting proposal if the opposition party demonstrates that it is serious about discussing pending issues with the president and that it is not trying to capitalize on such a meeting for political purposes.
But Lee was later quoted as saying he welcomes such an offer if it calls for sincere talks.
"There is no reason whatsoever to attach strings" to such a proposal, as Sohn made the offer "out of concern about people's livelihood," Lee was quoted as saying about the proposal. Lee's new chief political affairs aide, Kim Hyo-jae, delivered the remark to Sohn, according to an opposition lawmaker.
"When it comes to people's livelihood, I also have something to say to leader Sohn," Lee was quoted as saying. "I hope we can meet at an early date after coordinating the agenda and the timing."
If realized, a meeting between Lee and Sohn would mark the first of its kind in three years since September 2008 when then-DP leader Chung Sey-kyun held talks with Lee at the presidential office.
A meeting between Lee and Sohn is expected to take place in a couple of weeks as Lee is scheduled to make an overseas trip next month.
Earlier in the day, Sohn said he wants to discuss the issues of college tuitions, job creation, home rental prices, labor disputes and the pending free trade agreement with the United States.
The trade pact, signed in 2007 and supplemented last December, has been awaiting approval from the legislatures of the two countries. The DP has been calling for a renegotiation of the deal, saying the pact favors the U.S.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, June 13 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak on Monday welcomed the opposition leader's offer to hold rare one-on-one talks, a lawmaker said, setting the stage for the first such meeting in about three years, which is expected to focus on how to boost people's livelihood.
Sohn Hak-kyu, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), made the dialogue proposal earlier in the day, saying he wants to discuss a string of challenges the country faces, such as high college tuition costs, rising home rental prices and other pending issues.
"I propose an emergency meeting with the president to discuss the economy and people's livelihood," Sohn said at a party meeting. "I want to sit with the president to have sincere dialogue about crises faced by our society, our people, right now."
Initially, the presidential office gave a cautious reaction to the proposal, with senior presidential spokesman Kim Du-woo only saying that Cheong Wa Dae is "always open" to such talks, but at the same time calling for the opposition party to demonstrate "sincerity."
The response was seen as meaning that the presidential office could accept the meeting proposal if the opposition party demonstrates that it is serious about discussing pending issues with the president and that it is not trying to capitalize on such a meeting for political purposes.
But Lee was later quoted as saying he welcomes such an offer if it calls for sincere talks.
"There is no reason whatsoever to attach strings" to such a proposal, as Sohn made the offer "out of concern about people's livelihood," Lee was quoted as saying about the proposal. Lee's new chief political affairs aide, Kim Hyo-jae, delivered the remark to Sohn, according to an opposition lawmaker.
"When it comes to people's livelihood, I also have something to say to leader Sohn," Lee was quoted as saying. "I hope we can meet at an early date after coordinating the agenda and the timing."
If realized, a meeting between Lee and Sohn would mark the first of its kind in three years since September 2008 when then-DP leader Chung Sey-kyun held talks with Lee at the presidential office.
A meeting between Lee and Sohn is expected to take place in a couple of weeks as Lee is scheduled to make an overseas trip next month.
Earlier in the day, Sohn said he wants to discuss the issues of college tuitions, job creation, home rental prices, labor disputes and the pending free trade agreement with the United States.
The trade pact, signed in 2007 and supplemented last December, has been awaiting approval from the legislatures of the two countries. The DP has been calling for a renegotiation of the deal, saying the pact favors the U.S.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
