http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2007/12/113_15938.html
Lee Mends Fences With 4 Powers By Kang Hyun-kyung Staff Reporter Next President Lee Myung-bak was quick to establish friction-free diplomatic ties with major countries immediately after his victory in the election Wednesday. He talked with U.S. President George W. Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda over the phone Thursday and Friday and met ambassadors of the four powers _ the United States, China, Russia and Japan. Bush and Fukuda invited Lee to visit Washington and Tokyo in the near future. The new administration is unlikely to create unnecessary schisms in relations with the major countries. Rep. Park Jin of the Grand National Party (GNP) told The Korea Times that the Korea-U.S. alliance was undermined after President Roh Moo-hyun took power five years ago. ``The source of the schism was that the Roh administration used a dichotomy of alliance vs. independence in its diplomacy with the U.S,'' Park said. The lawmaker said the government also created an unnecessary rift in diplomacy with the neighboring countries by sending the wrong messages through its foreign policy. He added ``Political consideration sometimes troubled ties with Japan. The relations with Russia have been relatively neglected.'' The GNP lawmaker underscored that the incoming administration will prioritize a pragmatic approach in foreign policy with the four power countries. ``The President-elect will bolster the Korea-U.S. alliance, seek joint gains with the Japanese government, pursue strong economic ties with China and strengthen ties with Russia through energy diplomacy,'' said Rep. Park. The Seoul-Tokyo ties have been on a rocky path as President Roh Moo-hyun often accused Japan of obstructing progress in the six-party talks and of failing to atone for its past colonial rule of Korea. The President-elect said he will not shy away from criticizing North Korea's abuse of human rights, in contrast to the Roh administration, which was viewed by Japan as having a taken a lukewarm attitude toward Tokyo's getting back its kidnapped citizens from North Korea. The Lee administration is expected to scrap the so-called independent diplomacy his predecessor has been pursuing, which has created unnecessary friction with these countries. In a 15-minute telephone talk with Fukuda Friday, Lee agreed to `` further strengthen cooperation between Japan and South Korea, as well as tripartite cooperation including the United States, in order to completely implement the joint statement agreed in the six-way talks,'' a Japanese foreign ministry statement said. The telephone talks took place one day after Japanese Ambassador Toshinori Shiegei visited Lee to congratulate him. In telephone talks Thursday night with U.S. President George W. Bush, he unveiled his two primary goals: Dealing with bread-and-butter issues and achieving meaningful progress in dealing with the security threat posed by North Korea. Lee and Bush shared that Pyongyang's nuclear programs should be handled wisely. President-elect Lee made it clear he would bolster the Korea-U.S. alliance to resolve the nuclear threat. According to the GNP, Bush was quoted as saying ``Like you, I understand that in order to realize this vision we have to be firm with North Korea about their intention and their program, and at the same time offer them a better way forward." Lee stressed that he would like to work closely with the Japanese government to resolve Pyongyang's nuclear ambition. The ambassadors from these four countries paid congratulatory visits to Lee between Thursday and Friday, within 48 hours of his victory in the Wednesday election. Lee expressed his willingness to work closely with the Russian government to develop energy in the East Siberian region, Friday in a meeting with Russian Ambassador to Korea Gleb Ivashentsov. The envoy delivered a letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin. ``I understand that Putin is also deeply interested in the development project of the Siberian region. I believe both governments will benefit from the joint development project in the far eastern area,'' Lee said. He said North Korea can join the land use project in the Siberian region by offering its labor forces to the region. Lee stressed he would like to start energy diplomacy as soon as possible after he takes an oath of office on Feb.25. Lee also expressed his willingness to expand economic ties with China in a meeting with the Chinese ambassador when the latter paid a courtesy call on Lee to congratulate him Friday. The former Seoul mayor clarified that he would like to upgrade Korea-China economic relations as China is a critical trade partner for Korea. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. 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