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Tasks for post-Iran visit include warming relations with Saudi Arabia

Tasks for post-Iran visit include warming relations with Saudi Arabia

Posted May. 04, 2016 07:33,   

Updated January. 04, 2018 16:15

한국어
President Park Geun-hye made a visit to Iran, the first as a Korean president since diplomatic ties were made, creating a foothold for further developing the two countries' relations. Critics say that in order for the ties to develop smoothly, Korea should examine follow-up measures and make long-term preparations. At the same time, Korea needs to promote a balanced foreign policy on Iran and Saudi Arabia that are struggling each other to take dominant position in the Middle East.
 
In January last year, Iran, governed by Shia, and Saudi Arabia, a Sunni country, broke off diplomatic relations after Saudi Arabia's execution of a Shiite religious leader. There are prospects that companies that received orders from Iran can't get orders from Saudi Arabia due to conflicts of religious sects.
 
"Just before visiting Iran, the government explained it to Saudi Arabia and asked for its understanding," a diplomatic source in Korea said on Tuesday. "Saudi Arabia sent us a message asking us to make efforts for peace in the Middle East." The Foreign Affairs Ministry will manage side-effects and send a high-ranking official to Saudi Arabia after President Park returns. Korea has the highest oil import dependence of 31.6 percent on Saudi Arabia among oil producing countries.

Foreign policy on both countries should also be expanded to overcome anti-Islamic sentiment in Korea. "Anti-Islam sentiment is rampant in Korea, and it is a paradoxical behavior to be hostile to the biggest client in the global market," Hanyang University Professor Lee Hee-soo said.



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