Russia said that it will actively participate in the working
group for the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, as all parties
concerned have fully recognized that the necessity of such a
working group is an important result of the second round six-party
talks.
Alexander Losiukov, head of the Russian delegation and also
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, said here Saturday at the Russian
embassy, Russia will dispatch seven to 10 people to join the
working group, including diplomats and nuclear issue experts. The
working group will work out topics for discussions at the next
round talks, and start the expert consultation pinpointing the
topics.
Losiukov said the just-concluded second round talks, held in a
pragmatic manner, was highly constructive. To keep this trend will
be conducive to boosting the peaceful proceeding of the talks.
The third round talks are expected to open in the middle of this
year, which is also approved by all parties concerned, he said.
Losiukov said what type of nuclear weapons the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) developed is not clear yet. DPRK
all along denied the alleged enriched uranium program, unwilling to
exchange information with any other party.
DPRK raised proposal on freezing nuclear facilities, and wished
to receive more response, Losiukov said, adding that the US side
has not responded to it.
Though the results of the talks were not prominent, Losiukov
said, it was important that this round of talks has laid a solid
foundation for all parties to carry on consultation and narrow
differences.
(Xinhua News Agency February 29, 2004)