ID :
206110
Thu, 09/08/2011 - 19:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/206110
The shortlink copeid
(LEAD) Lee says Russia gas pipeline project could proceed 'faster than expected'
(ATTN: COMBINES story slugged Lee-N Korea-summit, ADDS other topics, details, background, photos, byline)
By Chang Jae-soon
SEOUL, Sept. 9 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak said Thursday that a massive gas pipeline project involving Russia and the two Koreas could move forward "faster than expected" as it would benefit all sides involved.
"North Korea and Russia are in talks and we are also in talks with Russia. There will be a point where the three parties reach an agreement. I think it will proceed faster than expected," Lee said during a panel discussion televised live nationwide. "It will be great if the project materializes."
The ambitious project to build a transnational pipeline shipping Siberian natural gas to South Korea via the communist North has gained momentum in recent weeks after North Korean leader Kim Jong-il discussed the project with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during his trip to Russia last month.
The two sides said later that they agreed to set up a joint committee to push for the project.
Russia's presidential envoy to the Far East Federal District, Viktor Ishaev, also said that the North's leader agreed to permit the envisioned pipeline to go through its territory if Russia and South Korea sign a contract on the project, according to a news report.
On the possibility of a summit with the North, Lee said he is always open to a meeting with the North's leader, but the communist nation should first demonstrate its commitment to peace on the divided peninsula and pledge not to make further provocations.
"I may or may not hold an inter-Korean summit during my term," Lee said. "If a summit is going to be held, there should be a guarantee that (North Korea) will bring peace to the Korean Peninsula and won't make provocations."
Lee also expressed skepticism about the usefulness of a summit with Pyongyang, saying that the communist nation kept committing provocations in waters near the western sea border despite the previous two rounds of summit talks with the South.
Lee also said that he wants to help North Korea revive its broken economy and maintain its security.
"I can hold (an inter-Korean summit) at any time if it helps open peace and prosperity between the two Koreas," he said.
Relations between the two Koreas have been tense since Lee took office with a pledge to link aid to the impoverished neighbor to progress in efforts to end its nuclear programs. The already-frayed ties plunged to the lowest levels in decades after the North's two deadly attacks on the South last year.
Lee rejected Japan's territorial claims to South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo, saying he may visit the islets whenever he wants, and "even within this year."
"I can go there at any time because it's our territory," Lee said.
Lee said that he had thought of visiting Dokdo as well as the nearby island of Ulleung together with first lady Kim Yoon-ok earlier this year, but called off the plan because of bad weather.
Japan's attempt to lay claim to Dokdo has long been a thorn in relations between the two countries. South Koreans see those claims as a sign that Japan has not fully repented for its colonial rule of Korea.
South Korea has rejected Japan's claims over Dokdo as nonsense because the country regained independence from the colonial rule and reclaimed sovereignty over its territory, including Dokdo and many other islands around the Korean Peninsula.
Lee also talked about pending economic and political issues.
On the explosive popularity of star IT expert and professor Ahn Cheol-soo as a potential candidate for president, Lee said that the phenomenon illustrates that the South Korean people wants changes from the current political establishment.
"I think that we are in a 'smart' era, but our politics remains in an 'analog' era," Lee said of the backwardness of South Korean politics. "People are demanding changes from the political circles and I believe such a yearning was vented through professor Ahn."
Ahn, the 49-year-old founder of South Korea's best-known anti-virus software firm Ahnlab, saw his popularity skyrocket over the past week after hinting that he may run for Seoul mayor. Though he gave up his mayoral candidacy, surveys have put him well ahead of Park Geun-hye of the ruling Grand National Party and other presidential hopefuls.
Analysts have said that Ahn's popularity illustrates the distrust South Koreans have in existing politicians and political parties, which have often come under fire for engaging in factional or partisan fighting without caring for ordinary people.
Despite the high popularity, Ahn announced earlier this week that he decided against running for mayor and will instead back a lawyer-turned-liberal activist.
Lee said that the job of Seoul's mayor has little to do with politics and therefore he believes the post should go to a person with administrative experience.
On tax cuts, Lee said that the government agreed to halt additional tax cuts for conglomerates as they are better off than small- and medium-sized firms and could make do without such benefits for two to three years.
In the long-term, however, Lee stressed that South Korea should move in the direction of expanding tax cuts to make the country an attractive destination for foreign investment.
jschang@yna.co.kr
(END)
By Chang Jae-soon
SEOUL, Sept. 9 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak said Thursday that a massive gas pipeline project involving Russia and the two Koreas could move forward "faster than expected" as it would benefit all sides involved.
"North Korea and Russia are in talks and we are also in talks with Russia. There will be a point where the three parties reach an agreement. I think it will proceed faster than expected," Lee said during a panel discussion televised live nationwide. "It will be great if the project materializes."
The ambitious project to build a transnational pipeline shipping Siberian natural gas to South Korea via the communist North has gained momentum in recent weeks after North Korean leader Kim Jong-il discussed the project with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during his trip to Russia last month.
The two sides said later that they agreed to set up a joint committee to push for the project.
Russia's presidential envoy to the Far East Federal District, Viktor Ishaev, also said that the North's leader agreed to permit the envisioned pipeline to go through its territory if Russia and South Korea sign a contract on the project, according to a news report.
On the possibility of a summit with the North, Lee said he is always open to a meeting with the North's leader, but the communist nation should first demonstrate its commitment to peace on the divided peninsula and pledge not to make further provocations.
"I may or may not hold an inter-Korean summit during my term," Lee said. "If a summit is going to be held, there should be a guarantee that (North Korea) will bring peace to the Korean Peninsula and won't make provocations."
Lee also expressed skepticism about the usefulness of a summit with Pyongyang, saying that the communist nation kept committing provocations in waters near the western sea border despite the previous two rounds of summit talks with the South.
Lee also said that he wants to help North Korea revive its broken economy and maintain its security.
"I can hold (an inter-Korean summit) at any time if it helps open peace and prosperity between the two Koreas," he said.
Relations between the two Koreas have been tense since Lee took office with a pledge to link aid to the impoverished neighbor to progress in efforts to end its nuclear programs. The already-frayed ties plunged to the lowest levels in decades after the North's two deadly attacks on the South last year.
Lee rejected Japan's territorial claims to South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo, saying he may visit the islets whenever he wants, and "even within this year."
"I can go there at any time because it's our territory," Lee said.
Lee said that he had thought of visiting Dokdo as well as the nearby island of Ulleung together with first lady Kim Yoon-ok earlier this year, but called off the plan because of bad weather.
Japan's attempt to lay claim to Dokdo has long been a thorn in relations between the two countries. South Koreans see those claims as a sign that Japan has not fully repented for its colonial rule of Korea.
South Korea has rejected Japan's claims over Dokdo as nonsense because the country regained independence from the colonial rule and reclaimed sovereignty over its territory, including Dokdo and many other islands around the Korean Peninsula.
Lee also talked about pending economic and political issues.
On the explosive popularity of star IT expert and professor Ahn Cheol-soo as a potential candidate for president, Lee said that the phenomenon illustrates that the South Korean people wants changes from the current political establishment.
"I think that we are in a 'smart' era, but our politics remains in an 'analog' era," Lee said of the backwardness of South Korean politics. "People are demanding changes from the political circles and I believe such a yearning was vented through professor Ahn."
Ahn, the 49-year-old founder of South Korea's best-known anti-virus software firm Ahnlab, saw his popularity skyrocket over the past week after hinting that he may run for Seoul mayor. Though he gave up his mayoral candidacy, surveys have put him well ahead of Park Geun-hye of the ruling Grand National Party and other presidential hopefuls.
Analysts have said that Ahn's popularity illustrates the distrust South Koreans have in existing politicians and political parties, which have often come under fire for engaging in factional or partisan fighting without caring for ordinary people.
Despite the high popularity, Ahn announced earlier this week that he decided against running for mayor and will instead back a lawyer-turned-liberal activist.
Lee said that the job of Seoul's mayor has little to do with politics and therefore he believes the post should go to a person with administrative experience.
On tax cuts, Lee said that the government agreed to halt additional tax cuts for conglomerates as they are better off than small- and medium-sized firms and could make do without such benefits for two to three years.
In the long-term, however, Lee stressed that South Korea should move in the direction of expanding tax cuts to make the country an attractive destination for foreign investment.
jschang@yna.co.kr
(END)
