KMT seeks clear agenda before agreeing to talks

The KMT yesterday urged the DPP to show its sincerity in negotiating with opposition parties by setting down a clear agenda before inviting opposition leaders to a political summit.

KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) said negotiations between the opposition and ruling parties are normal and necessary in a democracy and proposed that issues for discussion could include the DPP's pro-independence platform, the system of government and cross-strait policy.

"No government, whatever its form, can operate beyond the basis of inter-party negotiations or deny the significance of checks and balances by the opposition parties. Otherwise it will lead the country to an abyss of dictatorship and confrontation," Lien said.

Lien added that inter-party negotiations should be based on sincerity and conducted in a multi-channel pattern so as to generate a consensus.

Also, the opposition should monitor the ruling party to ensure that the consensus is implemented in a way that meets public expectations, Lien said.

"Inter-party negotiations should not become a means to divert public attention from the failure of the ruling party and to dodge responsibility," Lien said.

Lien made the remarks one day after DPP Secretary-General Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) had contacted his KMT counterpart, Lin Fong-cheng (林豐正), to invite Lien to a political summit on behalf of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), who is set to soon take over as DPP chairman.

Chen extended a similar invitation to Lien and PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) before he went on his latest overseas trip, but was turned down by the opposition leaders.

KMT spokesman Wu Ching-ji (吳清基) said his party has never avoided inter-party negotiations with the DPP, but it is expecting the DPP to show some sincerity and present a concrete plan of what it intends to discuss with the opposition parties.

For example, Wu said, the opposition could not feel the sincerity of the DPP in the just-concluded extraordinary session of the legislature, because the DPP had refused to negotiate with opposition legislators.

"If issues urgently faced by the country are the theme [of the summit], we will take an active part in it to speak for the people's well-being," Wu said.

DPP Deputy Secretary-General Michael You (游盈隆) said all issues are open to discussion as long as the opposition leaders are willing to sit down to talk.