Posted April. 05, 2004 22:06,
Uri Party chairman Chung Dong-young called on Grand National Party chairwoman Park Geun-hye on April 5 to meet with him to discuss the cancellation of the impeachment motion, citing such an alternative is in the interest of the country and the people.
At a press conference in Busan Democracy Park, Chung said, If the opposition party retracts the impeachment move, I will do what I can do for it. He continued, Since President Roh Moo-hyun said in the press conference last month he would apologize if the motion is withdrawn, if the motion is called off I will request him to apologize.
This is a King Solomons solution in the difficult phase, Lee Byong-wan, the presidents publicity secretary, commented on Chungs proposal. The 16th National Assembly needs to consider it seriously as it has to solve the problem it has created.
Asked whether President Roh would meet with Chung and Park, Lee answered, If Uri Party Chairman Chung and GNP Chairwoman Park agree to the cancellation and request to meet with President Roh, we will seriously consider it.
President Roh caused problems by shaking the very foundation of the rule of law, GNP chairwoman Park said. If we retract the impeachment motion, we will also dismiss the rule of law. She rejected Chungs request and said, We will respect any ruling made by the Constitutional Court. We hope the Uri Party does the same.
Uri Chairman Chung made the proposal to divert the opposition triggered by his controversial remarks about senior voters, Millennium Democratic Party campaign manager Park Joon-young said. Uri Partys mutually beneficial politics is no more than political expediency.
Meanwhile, Uri Party floor leader Kim Geun-tae visited the shrine by Imjin River, near to the DMZ, where he said, If the Uri Party wins a majority of the vote, it will request a legislature body meeting with the North and work for a second North-South summit.