China, Russia reach consensus before six-party talks

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, February 24, 2004

China, Russia reach consensus before six-party talks

Chinese and Russian officials Monday in Beijing urged all sides of the six-party talks "to show flexibility and sincerity" and "avoid confrontations" when holding discussions on concrete problems.

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Chinese and Russian officials Monday in Beijing urged all sides of the six-party talks "to show flexibility and sincerity" and "avoid confrontations" when holding discussions on concrete problems.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Russian counterpart Alexander Losiukov, also heads of the Chinese and Russian delegations respectively, made this call during their consultation for the upcoming six-party talks, due to open on Wednesday.

"The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on the well proceeding of the six-party talks and reached wide consensus," according to a press release from China's Foreign Ministry.

Wang briefed the Russian side on the preparation of the talks and the major problems facing all sides, the release said.

Efforts should be concentrated on the setup of objectives and framework for resolving the issue, the release said, adding that such efforts are important for pushing the talks in a smooth way.

It is learned that Wang will also hold consultation with officials of the United States, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan before the talks.

The Russian delegation was the first foreign delegation to arrive in Beijing.

The US delegation led by James Kelly, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and the Japanese delegation headed by Mitoji Yabunaka, director-general of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Foreign Ministry,are expected to arrive in Beijing this evening.

The Russian delegation will hold separate consultations with delegations of Japan, the United States, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday.

Russia supports DPRK's freeze of nuclear program

Russia supports the proposal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to freeze its nuclear program and steps for its implementation required further consultation in the upcoming six-party talks, Losiukov said.

Losiukov commented the freeze proposal "a phase" for resolving the nuclear issue upon arrival in Beijing.

Russian delegation is the first foreign delegation to arrive here for the second round of talks on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, which involves China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States, the Republic of Korea(ROK), Russia and Japan and is scheduled to open on Wednesday.

After expressing "cautious optimism" on the talks to the press,Losiukov and the Russian delegation he led left for the Chinese Foreign Ministry for further consultation with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi, head of the Chinese delegation.

At the airport, Losiukov admitted there were "a number of uncertainties" around the talks. All sides will fully state their stance in the first day of the talks and Russia hopes to score progress in this round of talks.

He said that the stand of Russia is "very close" with the standheld by China, so today's consultation can "create conditions" forthe future talks, adding that the two countries had already had effective cooperation after the first round of talks.

Russia will consult with other four parties, the DPRK, US, ROK and Japan Tuesday, Losiukov said.

All sides have accelerated their paces to coordinate stance forthe talks during the past days.

The United States, ROK and Japan have gathered in Seoul Sunday for policy coordination.

Ahead of the second round of six-party talks, the three countries "again exchange views and sufficiently prepare...so thatthe talks will be fruitful," according to ROK Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Lee Soo-hyuck, the ROK delegation head.

Pyongyang's nuke-freeze offer under discussion

The United States showed a positive response to a series of South Korea-proposed conditions to be attached to any offer by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK) of a nuclear freeze, a senior South Korean official said Monday in Seoul.

The US position was expressed by US Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly at a one-day consultation held here Monday with South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo-hyuck and Mitoji Yabunaka, a director-general at the Japanese Foreign Ministry, before the second round six-party nuclear talks slated to be held in Beijing, South Korean Yonhap News Agency quoted Lee as reporting.

Pyongyang's proposal to freeze its nuclear program in exchange for economic rewards was an important topic at the consultation, Lee said.

"If such conditions are enforced, the United States has no strong objection to a DPRK nuclear freeze," Lee said after the meeting.

But Lee did not elaborate on the conditions. Yonhap quoted other South Korean officials as saying they include Pyongyang's freeze must cover "all" of its nuclear programs, and be followed "in a short period of time" by steps to ultimately dismantle nuclear programs and allow verification.

The United States so far has been insisted only after the DPRK dismantles nuclear program in "complete, verifiable and irreversible" manner, Pyongyang's concern can be discussed.

The DPRK earlier this year offered freeze of its nuclear facilities in return for compensations from the US and other involving parties.

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