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Six parties seek more common ground
(China Daily by Hu Xiao)
Updated: 2004-02-26 00:16 Six parties involved in the talks on the nuclear
issue of the Korean Peninsula found "some consensus, though differences
remained" at the end of the first day, the Chinese host said Wednesday in
Beijing.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters
after a first day of discussions that all six parties agreed that "taking
action" is the best way to establish trust.
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From left to right, US Assistant Secretary
of State James Kelly, Republic of Korea Deputy Foreign Minister Lee
Soo-hyuck, Democratic People's Republic of Korea Deputy Foreign Minister
Kim Kye-gwan, Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Japanese chief
negotiator Mitoji Yabunaka and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander
Losiukov reach their first consensus on joining hands
together February 25 prior to their talks at the Diaoyutai State
Guesthouse in Beijing. [newsphoto] |
The talks involve China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK),
the United States, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan.
Delegates to the negotiations have been "earnest, practical and frank" in
their speeches, said Liu, saying the second round of talks had entered a stage
of "substantial discussions."
At the start of Wednesday's talks, the DPRK and the United States, the two
major parties briefed the others on their positions which were interpreted by
analysts as "softening though with firm lines."
The United States delegate demanded a "complete, irreversible and verifiable
dismantlement'' of the DPRK's nuclear weapons programmes.
The United States will "seek a complete, verifiable dismantlement of all of
the DPRK's nuclear programmes, both the plutonium- and uranium-based weapons,''
said chief US delegate James Kelly in his open remarks which were broadcast live
worldwide.
Meanwhile, Kelly reminded the diplomats gathered in Beijing of a promise made
by US President George W. Bush that "the United States is prepared to join with
other parties in providing security assurances to the DPRK" and made clear it
has no intention of "invading or attacking the DPRK."
Declaring this week's meeting will decide the future of six-party talks, Kim
Kye-kwan, head of the DPRK delegation said his country will show "flexibility
while maintaining principled positions.''
Economic aid is a key in Pyongyang demands for its freezing and then
dismantling its nuclear programmes while Washington has said a freeze is not
enough. Washington has asked the DPRK to first dismantle "all'' its nuclear
programmes.
Some leading Korean studies experts in Asia have criticized the Bush
administration's stance.
Fan Jishe, an international relations specialist with the government
think-tank, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said he is worried that if
the US administration's main goal is to isolate the DPRK or to change its
government it is a dangerous strategy for the Bush government in the region.
"As far as the DPRK is concerned, nothing can jeopardize its supreme national
security than being labeled as an 'axis of evil'," Fan said.
However, Fan added, the DPRK should recognize that its security cannot be
enhanced even if it develops or possesses nuclear weapons.
Analysts believe the DPRK has been considering taking some additional
actions. DPRK diplomats held informal talks this month in Vienna with officials
from the UN nuclear watchdog on a possible resumption of inspections of the
country's nuclear complex at Yongbyon, Japan's Kyodo news agency said on
Tuesday.
This was the first reported contact between the DPRK and the International
Atomic Energy Agency since inspectors were asked to leave in December 2002.
Liu said Wednesday China opposed the practice of sanctions, blockades and
pressure on the issue. China is even more opposed to the use of threats or
force.
Liu said such issues as the realization of denuclearization of the Korean
Peninsula and the elimination of the rational security concerns of DPRK should
be linked to a reasonable solution.
Liu said Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Yi had explained China's principled
stance of working to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
Wang, head of the Chinese delegation, said Wednesday China agrees the
concerns of all parties need to be addressed through co-ordinated steps.
At this round, Wang said the parties would discuss how to identify the
specific objectives in resolving the nuclear issue, explore measures to be taken
in the first phase to resolve the nuclear issue, and study ways to continue the
process of the talks.
He said China always hoped the matter would be solved through dialogue and
peaceful means.
"We come to the talks to expand our common ground rather than to highlight
our differences, and we come to solve rather than to worsen problems," Wang
pledged.
Positive signals appeared Wednesday. The DPRK and the US delegations held a
two-and-a-half-hour bilateral meeting Wednesday afternoon -- possibly the
longest and highest-level formal contact since the standoff began in October
2002.
In the first round six-party talks last August, the two sides had an informal
meeting.
Also Wednesday, ROK chief negotiator Lee Soo-hyuck hoped that despite
conflicting positions, participants would try to find specific ways of resolving
the dispute.
Japanese and Russian delegates also made similar calls and expressed
gratitude for China's preparations for the talks.
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