1st stage of 4th-round talks lay foundation
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-08-08 11:03

Almost all delegations to the fourth round of six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue considered that the first stage of the talks has laid a foundation for progress in future consultations and wish that a common document would come into being as early as possible.

The six-party talks, which reopened on July 26 in Beijing, will have a three-week recess, during which delegates will report to their respective governments, study further each other's positions and resolve differences which still exist.

After the six parties decided to have the short break, Kim Kye-gwan, chief negotiator of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), said that the United States must change its position on requiring DPRK to abandon all its nuclear programs. "It's the key to the success of the next-stage six-party talks," he said.

Kim noted that the delegates reached a consensus on the goal of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and reaffirmed the principle of "word for word, action for action."

The six parties, which also include China, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Japan and Russia, exchanged views on some "questions of principle" in a "sincere, frank and friendly" atmosphere though they failed to reach an agreement, said Kim, who is also vice foreign minister of the DPRK.

He ascribed the failure in issuing a common document mainly to the "major differences" between the DPRK and the United States on the definition of denuclearization.

The DPRK does not want to give up its right to peacefully use nuclear power while the United States attempts to keep the DPRK from the right,"Kim said.

The denuclearization cannot be realized by the DPRK alone, and the United States and the ROK should also take actions, Kim said.

He added that his country is ready for more bilateral contacts and hopes the United States could change its position on requiring the DPRK to abandon all its nuclear programs, including peaceful use of nuclear power.

Kim said it's very important for the United States to remove its nuclear threat against the DPRK, which has prompted the DPRK to develop nuclear weapons.

He urged the United States to dismantle the nuclear weapons in the ROK and agreed to receive verification.

US chief negotiator Christopher Hill said much progress had been made in the 13-day talks though differences remained.

He attributed the decision to have a recess to the remaining differences between the DPRK and the United States. "We were not able to finish the job, not able to bridge remaining gaps."

Hill, also the US assistant secretary of state, was optimistic about a possible joint document in the next stage, however. "There is real logic to try to reach an agreement, logic to everyone. I'm still hopeful we can automatically arrive at that," he said

"I think the Chinese draft is an excellent basis for reaching an agreement,"said Hill, adding that the Chinese have done what they could do to help achieve the goal of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Song Min-soon, deputy head of ROK delegation, considered the first-stage talks was "very helpful for all the parties to exchange views on their respective stances".

He also expressed his hope for an agreement to be reached in the proposed common document in the next-stage talks.

In comparison with the previous three rounds of talks, the current round featured discussions about substantial problems, a Japanese government official who declined to be named said here Sunday afternoon.

He noted that Japan did not give up hopes for prospects of the talks.

On Sunday morning, he said, the Japanese and the DPRK delegations held a 20-minute meeting, at which the Japanese side stressed its consistent stance on Korean nuclear and abduction issues.

The Russian delegation to the fourth round of the six-party talks left Beijing Sunday noon for Moscow after the parties concerned agreed to take a recess.

Delegation head Alexander Alexeyev said Saturday evening he hoped the three-week recess might provide a good opportunity for the six parties to adopt a common document to continue the talks and reach the target of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.

A common document would definitely be agreed upon and adopted by the parties after the recess, "Alexeyev said, adding that Russia believed the six-party talks remained the best mechanism to solve the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.