Russia believes that the results of the six-party talks in
Beijing will help turn the Korean Peninsulain to a nuclear-free
zone and create conditions for better security in the region, the
Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
"The results of the fifth round of the talks will help give an
additional impetus to the six-party process, the ultimate goal of
which is to ensure the Korean Peninsula's nuclear-free status and
to create conditions for strengthening peace and security in
Northeast Asia and developing comprehensive cooperation between all
states in the region," the ministry said in a press release.
The Russian ministry called it crucially important for North
Korea to assume its obligation to stop the operation of its nuclear
facilities in Yongbyon within a short time, and to admit
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors for necessary
checks.
The ministry also said the negotiators have agreed to set up
five working groups on the denuclearization of the Korean
Peninsula, economic and energy cooperation, a peace and security
mechanism in Northeast Asia and normalization of North Korea-US
relations and North Korea-Japan relations.
Envoys from the host nation China, North Korea, the United
States, South Korea, Japan and Russia concluded their talks on
Tuesday with a joint document on the first step toward the
denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.
Under the document, North Korea will shut down and seal the
Yongbyon nuclear facility, including the reprocessing facility and
invite back IAEA personnel to conduct all the necessary monitoring
and verifications.
The parties agreed to the provision of emergency energy
assistance to North Korea in the initial phase, and assistance
equivalent to 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil will commence within 60
days, according to the document.
The next round of the six-party talks is scheduled to be held in
Beijing on March 19.
(Xinhua News Agency February 14, 2007)
