(Communicated by the Foreign Minister's Bureau)
Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni met this afternoon (Sunday, 2 December 2007) with South Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-Soon. FM Livni congratulated her counterpart on the strengthening of direct relations between the two countries since her visit to South Korea last year, and asked him to rescind restrictions imposed by the South Korean government on travel to Israel.
FM Livni and FM Song Min-Soon also discussed issues relating to nuclear proliferation in the region. Regarding this, FM Livni stated: "The international community is concentrating efforts to sever commercial and financial relations with Iran, to increase pressure on that country, and we must not allow Iran to evade these significant actions by presenting Asian alternatives. When Europe takes action against Iran - Iran turns to Asia. It is extremely important for Asian countries to avoid the creation of alternative relations with Iran, especially at this crucial point." The two foreign ministers also discussed North Korea's decision to disable its nuclear program and the obligation of preventing proliferation of elements of its nuclear program in countries in the Middle East.
FM Livni and FM Song Min-Soon agreed to renew the deliberations of the Joint Israel-South Korea Economic Commission, with the aim of strengthening economic relations between the two countries on issues such as tourism, hi-tech, trade and research & development.