US and the Republic of Korea to Sign Environmental Agreement

Notice to the Press
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
January 20, 2012

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On Monday, January 23, Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Robert Hormats will be joined by Republic of Korea Ambassador to the United States Han Duk-soo in a ceremony to sign a bilateral Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA). The ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. in the Treaty Room of the Harry S. Truman Building.

The United States and Korea negotiated the ECA in parallel with the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement, which was approved by the two countries in 2011. The ECA specifies areas where the United States and the Republic of Korea will cooperate on environmental protection, ensuring that the Free Trade Agreement does not result in environmental degradation, but include protections to improve overall environmental quality and cooperation.

The Under Secretary and the Ambassador will give brief remarks. There will be no Q&A.

The event is open press.

Pre-set time for video cameras: 10:15 a.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby of the Harry S Truman Building.

Final access time for journalists and still photographers:10:30 a.m from the 23rd Street Entrance Lobby.

Media representatives may attend this event upon presentation of one of the following: (1) A U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification card (driver's license, passport). Press should allow adequate time to process through security.

ENDS