The six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula
nuclear issue resumed on Thursday afternoon in Beijing, primarily
focusing on taking active first steps towards denuclearization of
the peninsula.
"I hope the meeting will be a good beginning for implementing
the joint statement, and a new starting point in the process of
denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," said Chinese chief
negotiator Wu Dawei, speaking at the opening ceremony at Diaoyutai
State Guesthouse in downtown Beijing, the venue for the talks since
2003.
Following the ending of the last round in December without a
breakthrough, a frenetic round-robin of diplomatic voyages was seen
to restart the talks.
"Delegates from the DPRK and the United States have had
productive contacts," said Wu. "All the various efforts have laid a
more mature foundation for reconvening the talks."
A plenary session was held after the opening ceremony, in a
"frank and practical" atmosphere, according to sources with the
Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The six delegation heads reiterated once again their
determination to pursue the six-party talks and to achieve
denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and in a
peaceful manner, according to the sources.
All the senior negotiators will strive to reach consensus on the
initial steps for the implementation of the Sept. 19 joint
statement, the sources said.
Under the joint statement, signed by all parties during the
fourth round of talks in 2005, the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea (DPRK) agreed to dismantle its nuclear program in exchange
for economic aid and security guarantees.
Spokesman for the Chinese delegation Qin Gang said "the plenary
session was candid and pragmatic, all sides exchanged views on
initial steps of the implementation of the Sept. 19 joint
statement, and made some constructive suggestions."
Qin spoke to a press briefing after the session, stating China's
hope that all sides can soon reach consensus on the initial steps
and quickly end this phase of meetings.
Hopes are high that the talks will end prior to the Chinese lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 18, and is
a national festival celebrated in China, the DPRK and the Republic
of Korea (ROK).
However, Qin added that the meetings would continue as long as
necessary.
Today's meeting shows that the six parties are beginning to
develop consensus, which will promote understanding and trust
between all sides and promote the six-party talks process, Qin
said.
He called on improved confidence and patience among all other
parties, and to cherish the resumption of the talks as a chance for
laying good foundations for future.
According to Qin, the establishment of working groups will be
discussed during this phase of meetings.
A spokesman from the Japanese delegation echoed this saying all
sides can better contribute to denuclearization measures through
working group discussions, and to allow the statement to be
implemented in a comprehensive and balanced way.
However, he stressed that the DPRK must cease and desist all
nuclear activity, and accept supervision from the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Chief ROK delegate Chun Yung Woo expressed hope for an early
consensus on the initial steps, saying this would be crucial to the
implementation of the joint statement and to build trust.
He said this round of meetings could see a joint document
drafted earlier than before, since the parties have had frequent
bilateral contacts prior to the meeting, and reached a certain
degree of consensus.
US chief negotiator Christopher Hill said the six parties are
"coalescing around" some themes, and "we hope we can achieve some
kind of joint statement here".
The Chinese side should circulate a draft later Thursday or
early Friday to this end, Hill told reporters after dinner.
Hill said that if the United States and the DPRK can agree on
today’s discussions, "it will be a clear sign that we are moving
along the path and a clear sign that we will move towards full
implementation of the September statement".
However, Hill remained slightly cautious about the prospect of
an agreement, saying "it is not easy to achieve these actions,
because the first step of a journey is often a difficult step".
(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2007)
