민주당은 7일 박근혜 대통령이 여야 대표와 원내대표가 참여하는 5자 회담을 열자는 제안에 대해 사실상의 거부의사를 밝히며 일대일 회담을 거듭 요구했다.

청와대와 민주당의 입장이 팽팽하게 유지되는 가운데, 현재로서는 한쪽의 극적인 양보가 없는 한 어떠한 회담도 성사되기 어려운 상황으로 보인다.

민주당 김한길 대표는 노웅래 대표 비서실장을 통해 전한 입장발표에서 “제 1야당 대표의 단독회담 제안에 대해 박 대통령이 사흘만에 다자회담 제안으로 답한 것을 아쉽게 생각하고 있다”며 “대통령이 현 정국의 심각성을 직시하고 그에 따른 해법을 진지하게 고민한 결과가 5자 회담 역제안일 수는 없다”고 아쉬움을 드러냈다.

김 대표는 다시 한번 단독회담을 제안하면서 “대통령이 야당대표를 존중하는 모습을 보여줄 때 박 대통령이 더 많은 국민으로부터 존중 받는 대통령이 될 것”이라고 강조했다.

이에 대해 김기춘 비서실장은 “국민을 위해 만나 산적한 현안을 논의하는 게 좋다고 보는데 안타깝다”며 “청와대는 문을 열어놓고 기다릴 것”이라고 밝혔다고 이정현 홍보수석이 전했다.

박근혜 대통령은 화요일 새누리당 대표 황우여가 민주당의 단독회담을 3자 회담으로 대체하여 제안한 것에 대해 여야대표와 원내대표로 이루어지는 5자 회담으로 확장했다.

박대통령의 이러한 역제안은 민주당으로 하여금 청와대가 정치에 임하는 신중성에 대해 의문을 가지게 했고, 박지원 민주당 의원은 박대통령의 반응에 대해 “정치를 외교로 생각하는 거다. 그리고 5자회담 하면 당신들끼리 이야기 하라고 하고, 대통령은 가만히 듣고 있다가 국회에서 잘 하시라고 하고 일어서실 거”라고 예상했다.

한편 여야는 국정원 댓글 의혹사건과 관련한 국정조사 기간을 당초 이달 15일에서 오는 23일까지로 연장하고 청문회 일정을 2회에서 3회로 늘리는 내용을 골자로 한 6개항에 대해 합의했다. 이제 남은 과제는 김무성 의원과 권영세 주주대사의 증인 채택 문제에 대한 합의점일 것이다. (코리아헤럴드)





<관련 영문 기사>



DP reiterates demand to meet Park one-on-one



By Lee Joo-hee



The main opposition Democratic Party on Wednesday batted away President Park Geun-hye’s proposal on talks to resolve the standoff over the National Intelligence Service.

The party turned down Cheong Wa Dae’s counteroffer for an expanded five-person meeting, reiterating its call for one-on-one talks between Park and DP leader Kim Han-gil.

An immediate compromise appeared distant as the presidential office remained equally resolute that Park was only willing to discuss administration-related affairs, as indicated in her Monday offer to have the floor leaders of the major parties participate in the talks.

The DP had requested a two-way meeting with Park over the weekend to address political strife over the NIS’ alleged political interference in last year’s presidential election. The party has taken to the street since last Wednesday in protest of what it has called the ruling camp’s interference in efforts to shed light on the case.

“It is only suitable for the president and the leader of the main opposition party to meet and find a solution for the situation. Only when the president shows respect to the opposition representative will Park become a president respected by more people,” DP leader Kim Han-gil said in a statement read out by his chief of staff Rep. Noh Woong-rae.

“If the president had faced the gravity of the situation and seriously contemplated a solution, she would not have proposed five-way talks,” Kim said, offering once again to meet exclusively.

The DP, however, is open to include a ruling Saenuri Party representative in the meeting, Noh told reporters.

The DP has set up camp in Seoul Plaza in downtown Seoul demanding Park’s apology over the NIS scandal, a promise of reform of the agency and the resignation of the current NIS chief Nam Jae-joon.

Several minutes before Kim’s statement was released, Cheong Wa Dae expressed regret over the DP’s rejection of multi-party talks.

“It is regretful as (we) believe it is appropriate to meet for the sake of the people and discuss many pending issues. Cheong Wa Dae will wait with the door (for dialogue) open,” chief of staff Kim Ki-choon was quoted as saying during a senior secretarial meeting by senior press secretary Lee Jung-hyun.

Cheong Wa Dae’s position has been that it cannot interfere in the NIS issue.

Park on Tuesday had suggested talks with the chairmen and floor leaders of the rival parties, an expanded version of the three-way talks suggested by ruling Saenuri Party leader Hwang Woo-yea the day before as an alternative to Kim’s earlier request for one-on-one talks.

Park’s counteroffer invited a sullen response from DP members who questioned Cheong Wa Dae’s sincerity.

“Park must view politics as diplomacy. She must be planning to come to the talks, listen to our discussion, and walk out by saying she hopes the National Assembly will work things out,” quipped senior DP member Rep. Park Jie-won.

The rival parties, meanwhile, gathered to finalize the schedule and list of witnesses for the parliamentary probe into the NIS.

The final sticking point has been the Saenuri Party’s demand to bring in witnesses relevant to the DP’s alleged mistreatment NIS officials last year in the process of searching for the alleged slanderer of DP presidential candidate Moon Jae-in.

The DP has been demanding the summoning of two key campaigners for Park, Kim Moo-sung and Ambassador to China Kwon Young-se, as well as a former NIS official.

The two parties agreed to summon former NIS chief Won Sei-hoon and former Seoul police chief Kim Yong-pan to the stand, and to file complaints against them if they don’t comply.

The probe has also been extended to Aug. 23 and the hearing sessions will be held on Aug. 14, 19, and 21. (jhl@heraldcorp.com)