|
Bilateral consultations start in 6-party talks
By Qin Jize (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-09-15 06:11
A series of bilateral consultations began in Beijing yesterday as negotiators at the nuclear disarmament talks seek agreement on a joint statement outlining the basic principles of any deal.
US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and top U.S. negotiator for the six-party talks Christopher Hill speaks to journalists at China World Hotel in Beijing September 14, 2005. [Reuters] |
US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill held a one-on-one meeting with his DPRK counterpart Kim Gye-gwan yesterday afternoon, following on from dinner talks between the two on Tuesday night.
Hill said he sat next to Kim during the reception banquet on Tuesday night, and they "reiterated their desire to reach an agreement" at the end of this round of discussions.
It is reported that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has asked the United Sates to construct a light water reactor as it wants to retain the right to a civilian nuclear programme.
However, Washington ruled out such a possibility in the previous phase of talks.
Observers pointed out that the light water reactors would take centre stage in this phase of the nuclear disarmament talks.
This issue has been touched upon previously, but there has been no in-depth discussion.
Republic of Korea (ROK)'s chief delegate Song Min-Soon told reporters after having lunch with his US counterpart that the DPRK could have the right to peaceful use of nuclear power after completing dismantlement of their nuclear weapons and nuclear programmes.
He said they have not yet arrived at the stage where they discuss details of this concept.
|
