Outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Korea Alexander Vershbow delivers a lecture at a forum hosted by the Korea Foundation in Seoul, Wednesday. / Yonhap |
By Kim Se-jeong
Staff Reporter
Outgoing U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow said Tuesday that Korea and the United States need to step up cooperation to address human rights conditions not only in North Korea but also in other nations.
``There are many Koreans who will support taking a principled position on Burma's (Myanmar) human rights record, the treatment of North Koreans in China and human rights violations elsewhere in the world,'' he said at a forum organized by the Korea Foundation in Seoul.
Vershbow also called for Korea to take a bigger role in reconstruction efforts in Iraq.
The United States has expectations for Korea to ``take on a bigger role'' in reconstruction efforts in the Middle East country, the ambassador said in his speech, titled ``ROK-U.S. Relations: The Global Dimension.''
Yet, he complimented Korea for its growing commitment year by year to reach out to developing countries needing help.
His remarks added to the calls for Korea to be more engaged in international affairs.
Most recently, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged Korea to play a bigger role as an obligation for the country which was once a recipient of international donations during and after the 1950-53 Korea War. So did European leaders and foreign envoys in Korea.
Korea has about 660 troops deployed in war-torn Iraq for reconstruction.
The country's Official Development Aid (ODA) to the Middle East nation, especially monetary donations, totaled $260 million between 2003 and 2007, the seventh largest donor.
Since February 2007, Korea has joined the Regional Construction Team (RRT) in Iraq, dispatching six advisers in economic development, governance and security.
Vershbow also said Korea and the United States can cooperate on several global issues such as climate change and food security.
He said, ``I believe our cooperation on climate change shows the way for us to broaden our cooperation on other global issues," he said. ``Korea should see itself as one of the countries that can be a leader in forging a compromise that produces a badly needed boost to the developing world.''
Finishing his three-year tenure in Korea, Vershbow said he will maintain his links with Korea after retirement so that it would ``give us (Vershbow and his wife) an excuse to come back to Korea a few times a year.''
skim@koreatimes.co.kr
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yistory@koreatimes.co.kr
