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Russia expects no breakthrough in upcoming DPRK nuclear talks

PLA Daily 2004-02-04

MOSCOW, Feb. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- A senior Russian official said Tuesday that Russia does not expect any breakthrough at the new round of six-party talks this month over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s nu clear issue.

Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov confirmed that Russia welcomes the latest agreement to begin the second round of negotiations on Feb. 25 in Beijing, which will involve Russia, the United States, China, DPRK, South Korea and Japan.

But he suggested that parties involved in the talks should seek"not breakthroughs but understandings on how to develop the negotiation process" as "the difference of stances between Washington and Pyongyang is too big," Itar-Tass news agency reported.

He pointed out that many problems have not been solved so far including finalizing a document for the new talks and the issue of freezing DPRK's nuclear program.

It is important to reach a common understanding of how to dispose of nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula, said Losyukov who is in charge of Asian affairs at the ministry and is expected to represent Russia at the forthcoming six-party talks in Beijing.

Parties involved should clarify their positions at the upcoming second round of DPRK talks so as to reach "the ultimate goal of achieving a nuclear-free status for the country and security on the Korean Peninsula," Interfax news agency cited the deputy minister as saying.

Losyukov's statement came after Pyongyang's Tuesday announcement that it agreed to a new round of six-party talks starting from Feb. 25 in Beijing.

The first round of such negotiations was held in the Chinese capital last August but ended without much progress. The six nations have been trying hard since then to arrange for a second round.

Losyukov noted that the past six months were not wasted because all sides developed their stances.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said in an interview with the Ekho Mosckvy radio that the decision to resume the talks was a result of large preparatory work by all participants.

"The settlement of the problem by political-diplomatic methods is the only acceptable way," Yakovenko stressed, vowing that Russia "is ready to promote in every possible way the success of the negotiations on the basis of ensuring a nuclear-free status ofthe Korean Peninsula and providing security guarantees for all thestates situated there."