Financial issue blocks 6-party talks

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-21-2006 18:28

The six-party talks has entered its forth day. Negotiators in Beijing were hoping to make significant progress on the dismantling of the DPRK's nuclear weapons programme.However,US financial sanctions on DPRK remains to be the stumbling block.

Another day of the six-party talks, another day of difficult negotiations. Yet no real progress is being made.

The DPRK is pre-occupied with the issue of the financial sanctions and the US are standing firm.

US envoy Hill said, " I think they have a great deal of problem separating that, and so it is difficult to engage them on other subject when they came in with a very strong view on financial issues."

Christopher Hill is refusing to lift US financial restrictions until DPRK delegates agree to dismantle its nuclear program. The issue is preventing broader discussions on denuclearization to take place. Analysts believe Pyongyang needs reassurance first.

" They want to be assured by US in good faith to solve issues, they have to be assured they are safe without nuclear weapons." Defense analyst Pan Zhenqiang said.

US Treasury Department deputy assistant secretary Daniel Glaser, held talks with his DPRK counterparts on Thursday, but nothing new has been released.

Yu Meihua, senior research fellow said, " Both the DPRK and the US regard each other as enemies. A solution is in their hands, but first they must become more open minded. Achieving this is no easy task."

China is still trying its best to mediate. On Thursday, it held independent bilateral talks with all of the six parties. Its Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Qin Gang expresses China's concern.

Qin Gang, Chinese foreign spokesman expressed, " If the relevant issues of the financial sanctions can be solved as soon as possible, it will be conducive to the process of the six-party talks."

This will not be easy. The skepticism and mistrust between the two sides is preventing each from being the first to make a compromise.

Analysts believe that after the Republican defeat in the mid-term elections, President Bush wants to see some real progress on the Korean nuclear issue before leaving office. And Pyongyang wants to see an end to long-term sanctions. The question now is: who will take the first step.

 

Editor:Ji Xuewen