Palestinian leader Abbas to visit Seoul for talks with Lee

SEOUL, Feb. 4 (Yonhap) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will visit South
Korea next week in his first trip to the country for talks with South Korean
President Lee Myung-bak on ways to strengthen bilateral ties, Seoul's foreign
ministry said Thursday.
Abbas is scheduled to arrive here Wednesday on a two-day trip, also becoming the
first Palestinian president ever to visit South Korea, ministry spokesman Kim
Young-sun told reporters.
"The government believes the visit by President Abbas will help raise our public
awareness on the issue of peace in the Middle East and be a chance for our
country to help establish peace in the region," the spokesman said.
Palestine and South Korea established ties in 2005, but South Korea began its
support for the Middle Eastern state in 1991.
Seoul has since provided US$33 million worth of economic support for Palestine,
according to the ministry spokesman.
Abbas is also scheduled to attend a dinner to be hosted by Prime Minister Chung
Un-chan during his trip here.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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