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)