The nuclear weapon-free process should be verifiable and must
proceed within the international law framework, Alexander Alexeyev,
Russian delegation head to the third round of six-party talks on
the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, said in Beijing Wednesday.
Alexander Alexeyev, also special envoy of the Russian Foreign
Ministry, said at the opening ceremony of the third round that
since last August, the process of the six-party talks and the
bilateral and multilateral exchanges had brought about positive
results gradually.
As the third round of six-party talks began, the concerned
parties fully understood each other's stance, and reached consensus
that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) should free
from nuclear weapons, he said.
The concerned parties also understood that it was necessary to
provide a relevant guarantee for the DPRK, and to provide
assistance, firstly energy assistance, for the DPRK's social and
economic development, he added.
Setting up the working group was an important step towards the
further establishment of the mechanism of the six-party talks, and
the working group meeting achieved positive results, he said.
At the working group meeting, all concerned parties agreed that
the established goals should be realized on the basis of carrying
out equal dialogue and addressing each other's interests and
concerns, he said.
The six-party talks had clearly seen a positive momentum,
although the concerned parties still confronted certain
difficulties, he said, adding that the established goals were right
and accord with the interests of the concerned parties and the
international community.
The Russian delegation will make constructive contribution to
seeking a method acceptable for all concerned parties, so as to
solve the nuclear issue completely, he said.
The Russian delegation hoped to achieve positive results in this
round of six-party talks and to push forward the process of the
talks, he said, noting that the Russian side was willing to make
cooperation and exchanges with all concerned parties.
The first round of six-party talks was held last August in
Beijing and the talks involve China, the DPRK, the United States,
the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan.
(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2004)