Lee's envoy leaves for Jordan on Middle East visit

SEOUL, Aug. 23 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean ruling party lawmaker on Tuesday left for Jordan, embarking on a two-nation tour of the Middle East as a special envoy of President Lee Myung-bak, foreign ministry officials said.
Rep. Kim Jang-soo of the Grand National Party is scheduled to arrive in Jordan later in the day and meet top Jordanian officials this week to discuss ways to strengthen economic and other ties, officials said. South Korea and Jordan next year will mark the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties.
Kim then travels to Lebanon on a visit marking the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The lawmaker plans to ask Lebanese officials to continue to provide support for a South Korean military contingent serving as U.N. peacekeepers in the Middle East nation, according to the ministry.
South Korea has stationed the "Dongmyeong" (East Light) unit in Lebanon since 2007 as part of the U.N. interim forces' efforts to oversee a cease-fire and set up a buffer zone between Lebanon and Israel.
Kim will return home on Aug. 31, the ministry said.
kdh@yna.co.kr