Gov't Pushes for Multilateral Security Forum
2003-06-20
A presidential advisory panel on Thursday (June 19) proposed the creation of a multilateral security consultation forum in Northeast Asia to discuss pending security issues such as the North Korean nuclear crisis.
The Presidential Commission of Policy Planning came up with the recommendation in a 10-point proposal designed to promote peace and prosperity in the area.
During a meeting attended by President Roh Moo-hyun, the commission urged the need to transform the envisioned multilateral dialogue format to discuss the North Korean nuclear issue into a security forum consisting of relevant nations.
“The security forum is a concept benchmarked from the case of European Union which turned the offensive security policies of the block nations into defensive ones,” said Lee Soo-hoon, a senior researcher of the commission, in releasing the proposal.
President Roh has been citing the need to follow the lead of the EU in pursuing a new security order in Northeast Asia.
The body also called for the creation of a free trade agreement (FTA) to prepare for the framework of economic cooperation among the block nations at the earliest date possible and to hold summit talks on a regular basis.
The proposals include a project for the construction of pipelines to carry natural gas from Russia, holding peace forums in Northeast Asia, setup of the tentatively named Northeast Asia Development Bank, completion of iron “silk roads,” joint development of cultural content from relevant nations and establishment of an international university in the region.
The proposals came in a bid to materialize the initiative set forth by President Roh during his visit to Japan on June 6-9 and draw special attention as they will be the core concept of the current government's national administration and foreign policy.
In a contribution to business daily Money Today for its second anniversary edition Thursday, Roh stressed that his government would press ahead with the intent to turn Korea into the hub nation of Northeast Asia, an idea which has been one of two major goals aimed to transform the nation internationally.
“We will mobilize all possible efforts to make the Korean peninsula the center axis of peace and prosperity in the new Northeast Asia era that will connect the United States, China, Japan and Russia,” he said.
Source : www.korea.net
