| |
SCRIBE IN THE NEWS
 ARTICLE
PUBLISHED JUNE 21, 2007: EMBASSY ROW
James Morrison -
'Strong alliance'
The South Korean ambassador is delighted that Congress recognized
the "strong alliance" between his country and the United States,
even if a resolution recognizing the relationship came more than 50
years after the end of the Korean War.
South Korea "has long held our alliance partnership with the United
States in the highest esteem,"
Ambassador Lee Tae-sik said. "This is why we
wholeheartedly welcome and are so deeply appreciative of the
[resolution] that reaffirms the comprehensive and dynamic alliance
partnership shared by our two nations. ... It acknowledges the deep
ties and shared values of our two countries."
Mr. Lee also praised Rep. Peter
T. King, New York Republican, for sponsoring the House
resolution.
Thomas Kim, an adviser
to the embassy, noted that the measure was the "first such
resolution, believe it or not, on the alliance ever passed in the
House."
Congress may have waited 54 years to get started on the resolution,
but House members acted quickly after Mr. King introduced the
measure on March 30. By May 23, the Foreign Affairs Committee sent
the resolution to the House floor, where it won unanimous approval
on June 11.
"For almost six decades, the United States and the Republic of Korea
have maintained a strong alliance that rests on a shared commitment
to peace, democracy and freedom, not only on the Korean Peninsula
but throughout Asia and the rest of the world," Mr. King said on the
House floor last week.
Mr. King also praised South Korea for its support in the war on
terrorism and its efforts to get communist North Korea to stop its
nuclear weapons program.
"Since September 11, 2001, we have seen this bond further
strengthened, as [South] Korea has joined with the United States and
other coalition nations in supporting the global war on terror both
militarily and financially," Mr. King said, adding that
President Roh Moo-hyun
"truly understands this grave threat and the need for it to be
confronted."
Mr. King noted that South Korea sent 1,200 troops to Iraq, making it
the third-largest contingent of coalition forces after the United
States and Britain, and has pledged $460 million in reconstruction
aid to Iraq.
The resolution says the House "recognizes the strong alliance"
between the two countries and "expresses appreciation" to South
Korea for "its contributions to international effort to combat
terrorism."
While the words of the resolution pleased South Korea, Mr. Lee and
his government are anxiously awaiting congressional action on a
proposed free-trade agreement with the United States.
Supporters say the pact will cut tariffs and trade barriers and
boost economic growth in both countries, but opponents are mounting
campaigns to kill the deal. In South Korea yesterday, thousands of
farmers held rallies to denounce the trade pact and cited fears that
U.S. agricultural products will flood the country.
Visa waiver
The European Union's man in Washington has been busy lobbying
Congress to expand the visa-waiver program to include the 27 member
nations.
Ambassador John Bruton's
most recent foray on Capitol Hill included visits with six members
of the California delegation, including Democratic
Sen. Dianne Feinstein,
who serves on key committees.
"The current system for issuing visas, where these are required, is
expensive and time-consuming and bad for business," Mr. Bruton wrote
in his weekly column on the EU Web site (www.eurunion.org). "The EU
and the U.S. need to continue to work together to find the smartest
ways to promote international travel, mobility and exchanges whilst
simultaneously providing security for their citizens."
Mr. Bruton noted that all EU members issue secure passports that
meet the requirements of the program, which now includes 14 EU
nations, all in Western Europe.
The ambassador also met California members of the U.S. House:
Democrats Barbara Lee
and Zoe Lofgren and
Republicans Mary Bono,
Devin Nunes and
George Radanovich.
©
Call Embassy Row at 202/636-3297,
fax 202/832-7278 or e-mail:
jmorrison@washingtontimes.com.
 Return
to News & Resources
Return
to Top
|
|
|
