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Grand National Party floor leader Hong Joon-pyo and his United Democratic Party counterpart Won Hye-young on Tuesday agreed to open the 18th National Assembly on Thursday on condition that the ruling party consents to revising the livestock epidemic prevention act and carry out a parliamentary audit of the Korea-U.S. beef deal. That will return the National Assembly to normal 42 days after the term of the 18th session started on May 30.
The two floor leaders agreed to open the National Assembly on Thursday morning, elect the speaker, and hold an opening ceremony on Friday afternoon where President Lee Myung-bak will give a speech. The two parties will hold four days of hearings from July 16 on issues concerning public welfare such as the import of U.S. beef. A special committee will be set up in the Assembly to amend the livestock epidemic prevention act ¡°to reflect changes in the Korea-U.S. beef deal, the demands of citizens, and the national interest.¡±
A special audit of the process of negotiations between Korea and the U.S. on the issue of reopening the Korean market for American beef will be launched by a committee made up of equal numbers of ruling and opposition party lawmakers. Two more special committees are to be established, one on public companies and another on stabilizing people¡¯s living conditions.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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