`Pro-Japanese Criticism` Conclusion . . . Ruling,Minority Party Relations Cooling Fast

Unification Party announced that there is no point to holding the majority-minority party leader conference without the dismissal of the Democratic Party`s senior member Ahn Dong Sun for criticizing Chairman Lee Hwae Chang for being `pro-Japanese`, and a formal apology from President Kim Dae Jung.

Spokesperson Kwon Chul Hyun said, ``The party leadership meeting reached a consensus and communicated its message to Nam Koong Jin, head of Presidential Affairs, who has been in contact with the Governor Chief Secretary Kim Mu Sung.``

Chairman Lee stated at the consultation meeting on current events, ``It is hard to trust whether President Kim`s summon for a meeting of party learders is genuine when the ruling party throws around like some street thug false accusations and makes personal attacks against the opposition party`s chairperson.``

The Unification Party has decided to look into pressing charges against Democratic Party senior member Ahn Dong Sun, Secretary General Park Sang Kyu, and Representative Kim Hee Sun for defamation.

Meanwhile, a high level official in the Blue House reported that President Kim called Representative Kim Chung Kwon, saying, ``Senior member Ahn made an inappropriate statement at a critical time.`` and ordered him to communicate the message to Ahn. The President also requested that ``Representative Kim take care of the situation so that this statement will not cause unnecessary misunderstanding.`` Representative Kim formally expressed his regrets through spokesperson Chun Yong Hak, saying, ``Yesterday`s statement by senior member Ahn was a personal one and is not the official stance of the party. It is an inappropriate statement at a time when we must prepare for the majority-minority party leadership meeting.``

Spokesperson Chun said, ``We feel that it is inadvisable for the Unification Party to directly link this statement with the upcoming conference and hope that they will agree to a planning meeting for conference preparations.``

Moon Chul fullmoon@donga.com