Nobel Laureate Tawakkol Karman Urges South Korean PM to Review Infamous LNG Deal
Yemeni Nobel Laureate Tawakkol Karman called upon the government of South Korea to review of the partnership agreement of the LNG infamous deal signed by the government of the previous regime and the Korea.
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In her meeting with the Prime Minister of South Korea Mr. Kim Hwang-sik and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Kim Sung-Hwan in the capital Seoul, Ms. Karman stressed on the need for a review of this agreement describing it as “unjust”.
“The people of Yemen are disappointed with this agreement,” she told the senior Korean officials. “The stipulated price of the Yemeni LNG in this agreement is far less compared to the global market prices in addition that Yemen gets only 20 percent of the revenues.”
Ms. Karman pointed out that this agreement has passed through several intermediary companies and thus most of the revenues go to these companies, which seems to confirm allegations of corruption and bribery associated with this deal.
The immediate review, she called for, is to be fair and just for both sides; praising the transparency and good governance of the South Korean government.
Ms. Karman also encouraged the South Koreans to invest in power projects to enhance their partnership with Yemen.
“Yemen is passing through a sensitive transition period after the fall of the dictator Saleh,” Ms. Karman said. “We have a transitional president accepted by all the parties. We are also preparing for a national dialogue. There could be no political solution, if it is not accompanied a successful package of economic solutions.”
Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik expressed his appreciation for Ms. Karman’s leading role towards achieving freedom, human rights and change. He said, “I feel very glad to meet you in Korea after I heard of you last year when you were declared a winner by the Nobel Prize Commission.”
Foreign Minister of South Korea also welcomed Ms. Karman affirming his country’s readiness to provide support to Yemen in the field of Information Technology, telecommunications and through sending medical delegations to Yemen. “Korea was one of the countries that participated in the Yemen Friends’ conference,” the Foreign Minister said pointing out that he is ready to work with Ms. Karman to help Yemen and also at the global level as part of their mission for the UN High-Level Committee for Sustainable Development.
During her visit to Seoul, Ms. Karman met with the Minister of Gender Equality and Family, with whom she discussed several issues related to women rights.
