Leaders` Talk May Be Held Next Month

President of the Grand National Party (GNP) Lee Hoi-Chang said yesterday that he is prepared to hold a meeting with President Kim Dae-Jung, and the Cheong Wa Dae and the Millennium Democratic Party showed positive responses to Lee. Thus, leaders` talk is likely to be held next month.

Lee said at the press conference at the Incheon International Airport before embarking on a trip to Russia and Finland, "I can meet with President Kim and discuss ways to resolve the nation`s pending issues if it is necessary."

President of the GNP Lee said that he hasn`t yet thought about details regarding the meeting time. Since Lee is coming back on 29th and President Kim plans to visit Europe parliaments from December 2nd till 12th, the talk is highly likely to be held next month. It was reported that right after President Kim`s resignation from the president of the party, Cheong Wa Dae expressed that President Kim would like to hold the talk with the opposition leader even before Lee`s travel to Russia.

If the leaders` talk is to be fulfilled, this will be the 9th talk since Nov. 1998, and the first talk since President Kim`s resignation from the president of the party.

Regarding the National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Shin Kuhn and Prosecutor General Shin Seung-Nam, Lee said at the press meeting that they should take responsibilities through responsible actions. Lee urged for President Kim`s determination saying that "since impeachment is the last procedure approved by the constitution to ask for taking responsibility, I hope that such an unfortunate case would not take place."

Lee also said, "The key is to pass next year`s two elections fairly by establishing a neutral cabinet through which President can focus solely on state affairs, while reframing national administration through the human reform and eliminating corruptions."

Meanwhile, spokesperson of the MDP Lee Nak-Yeon said, "The party welcomes Lee`s willingness to hold a talk with President to resolve the nation`s pending issues and to reframe the government administration. We hope that the talk is to be held as soon as possible to resolve various issues reasonably and to discuss the administration of state affairs after President`s resignation from president of the party."

Yeon-Wook Jung jyw11@donga.com