BEIJING, July 26 (RIA Novosti, Alexei Efremov) - Russia hopes to adopt a joint agreement on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula as a result of the fourth round of six-party talks, Alexander Alexeyev, deputy Russian foreign minister and head of the Russian delegation, said in Beijing Tuesday at the opening of talks.
Alexeyev said the agreement should reflect the positions of all the negotiating parties, including Russia.
He also said Russia's position was definitely clear. "We stand for a nuclear-weapons-free Korean peninsula," Alexeyev said.
The head of the Russian delegation said "the negotiations should be based on respect and equality" as well as mutual concessions and compromise.
Russia welcomes the intention of the various parties to solve "bilateral concerns" through bilateral talks within the six-party negotiations.
Alexeyev told RIA Novosti yesterday that the United States and North Korea have demonstrated an approach that raises optimism over the negotiation's results.
"Both the United States and North Korea have signaled that their delegations in Beijing will have a certain flexibility leading to constructive debate. This will encourage some progress during the fourth round," Alexeyev said.
The diplomat said the Russian delegation would not put forward any new initiatives during the fourth round, as the adapted principles discussed in the previous rounds of talks remain unchanged and the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula still remains the ultimate goal. It should be a step-by-step process, including the dismantling of North Korea's nuclear program along with taking into account Pyongyang's concern over its security and energy supply.
The six-party negotiations involving Russia, the United States, China, Japan, North Korea, and South Korea began in August 2003. Three rounds of talks have been held to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear program.
The fourth round, initially scheduled for September 2004, was postponed when North Korean negotiators refused to take part, citing what they described as a hostile climate created by the U.S. North Korea declared itself a nuclear power in February 2005.
A deadline for the fourth round of talks has not yet been set as the delegations have decided to work without time constraints.
