Politics

18:32, 26.02.2008 | APR

An inauguration ceremony of Lee Myung-bak, the 17th president of South Korea, was held in the square outside the building of the National Assembly on Monday. He won a convincing victory over liberals at the December 19 general elections.

Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov represented Russia at the ceremony. He is going to have a working meeting with Lee Myung-bak during the visit.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Itar-Tass recently, Lee Myung-bak praised a high development rate of the Russian economy, which is taking place in conditions of political stability in the country. ”I regard Russia as an important partner in North-East Asia, which is working together with us for the stabilisation of peace in the region. I am going to take steps for the deepening of the relations of strategic partnership, which have taken shape between our two countries,” said the new South Korean president.

Aside from it, he praised “an important role played by Russia, as a participant in the six-party talks, in putting out of operation and dismantling North Korean nuclear facilities.” He mentioned his intention to closely cooperate with Moscow for achieving a final settlement of that problem, and said he counted on Russia’s participation in the creation of a more extensive permanent security system in the region.

Lee Myung-bak is willing to suggest various spheres of cooperation between Moscow and Seoul, including cooperation in the development of Russia’s energy resources for the purpose of meeting South Korea’s demand with the help of long-term deliveries of energy carriers from Russia. He favours the expansion of the use by South Korea of the potentialities of the Trans-Siberian Railway for the transportation of their export commodities to Europe.

Lee Myung-bak said South Korea would like to become one of the key participants in the development of the Russian Far East. It could put to use its technologies and the experience of participation in foreign development projects. The new president suggested as well the development jointly with Moscow of the North Korean regions bordering on Russia, along with the settlement of the North Korean nuclear problem within the framework of the six-party talks. He would like South Korea to take part in construction projects in the eastern regions of Russia.

-Itar-Taas