Negotiators from the six nations continued to work out a joint
document on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue today as the
six-party talks entered a record tenth day, approaching the final
stage.?
US chief negotiator Christopher Hill described yesterday's
negotiations as the "lightest day yet."
Hill did not give any details on yesterday's talks, but said
Washington had offered its response to the draft.
He said it was not clear if Pyongyang had done the same or
whether it had any objections, according to the Associated
Press.
Hill held one-on-one talks with several delegations, including
China and Japan, but did not meet with Pyongyang delegates and
there was no group meeting of the heads of the six delegations
yesterday as planned.
Delegates continued proposing suggestions on the fourth draft,
put forward by China overnight after the latest discussion.
Hill said yesterday the draft "narrowed differences" among all
sides and an agreement could possibly be reached.
"I think it is a very important text. It is a text that is
really designed to narrow differences, maybe even get to the point
where we can really agree on something," he said.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing talked with his US
counterpart Condoleezza Rice over the phone yesterday. The two
exchanged views on Sino-US relations and issues of common
concern.
According to media in Seoul, the fourth draft not only outlines
broad principles regarding Pyongyang's dismantling of its nuclear
programs, but also includes Pyongyang's right to use nuclear power
peacefully, and electricity and fuel oil aid.
(China Daily August 4, 2005)