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United New Democratic Party Chairman Sohn Hak-kyu on Thursday called for ratification of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement in the ongoing parliamentary session this month. The bill is pending at the National Assembly's Unification, Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee.
In a press conference held in Daegu, Sohn said, "I've consistently supported the FTA. I won't conceal that because I've now assumed the chairmanship of this party." He admitted it will ¡°not be easy¡± to persuade lawmakers from rural constituencies, who oppose the FTA for fear that it will put farmers out of business, with the general election approaching. ¡°And some lawmakers oppose the FTA due to their ideological or political convictions; it's not easy to tell them to change their positions either,¡± he added.
"But even in these circumstances, we're thinking hard about how to persuade them to support ratification," Sohn said. "We'll try to get the FTA ratified in the house session in February, if at all possible. If that¡¯s not possible, we'll seek another chance in an extra house session in March, even if it just lasts a day or two. And if that¡¯s not possible, we'll try to pass it before the current 17th National Assembly is closed following the general election in April. I think this will be our final deadline for ratification."
"I can't say formally that we'll push for ratification in February, I can only say we'll do our best,¡± he added.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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