Lawmakers to clash over US FTA
Korea Times | 12-25-2007
Lawmakers to Clash Over US FTA, Troops in Iraq
By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
Lawmakers are likely to clash over two thorny issues at the National Assembly extraordinary session slated for Dec. 27-28.
They are motions on a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States and on the extension of a troop deployment in Iraq.
While the conservative Grand National Party (GNP) to which President-elect Lee Myung-bak belongs wants fast passage of the motions, the liberal United New Democratic Party (UNDP) is taking a wait-and-see attitude and is poised to delay voting. The Democratic Labor Party (DLP) opposes the motions.
The GNP has 128 seats in the 299-member Assembly, while the UNDP has 142 seats. The labor party has nine seats and the Democratic Party, six seats.
Considering the policies for a Korea-U.S. FTA and the extension of the Zaytun division’s stay in the Middle East country were initiated by President Roh Moo-hyun and the pro-government UNDP (then Uri Party), the situation is creating interest among political analysts.
The ratification of the FTA is not an issue to be promptly determined ― between parliamentary approval and rejection for a presidential approval ― in accordance with pressure by the Bush administration,'' UNDP vice floor leader Im Jong-seok said.
Im's remark indicates the possibility that the parliamentaryyes-or-no without amendment’’ vote for the FTA motion will not be carried out before Roh’s term expires on Feb. 25.
On the contrary, GNP spokeswoman Na Kyung-won said, President-elect Lee wants early passage of the motion and U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Alexander Vershbow is calling for the early ratification of the motion in Korea before the U.S. Congress does.''
UNDP lawmakers are divided over the FTA motion. Pro-Roh figures and Chung Dong-young, who unsuccessfully ran in the Dec. 19 presidential election, support the motion.
But Chung has opposed the troop deployment extension, trying to attract more liberal voters by exploiting the issue during his electoral campaign.
Critics say the UNDP's move to delay the passage of the motions is aimed at the general elections in April and the GNP's move is one of its policies for closer relations with the U.S. ahead of Lee's inauguration.
Roh has said an extension of the troop mandate is unavoidable to strengthen ties with Washington. He stressed enhanced cooperation with the U.S. is necessary for resolving the North Korean nuclear problem and other pending military issues between the two allies.
But the President refused to link the FTA issue with North Korea.
A senior spokesman for Roh said on condition of anonymity,As far as I’m concerned, the ratification process for a Korea-U.S. FTA motion is not urgent.’’
But he declined to comment on his individual view on the extension of the troop deployment in Iraq.
Along with the FTA issue, the U.S. has been pressing the Korean government to fully reopen the beef market.
The unicameral legislature is also scheduled to handle a budget bill for next year before ending an extraordinary session Friday.
