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'A Crisis Dangerous Enough': Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov, interview on North Korea, August 6

'Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yuri Fedotov Answers Questions from Japanese NHK Television Company, August 6, 2003'; Russian Foreign Ministry website, http://www.mid.ru.

Question: At a meeting with you the DPRK ambassador to Russia confirmed Pyongyang's consent to the six-sided negotiations. Were any conditions of Pyongyang set forth on his part, for example, what topics would be discussed at the negotiations or, for example, regarding the necessity to hold, as part of the six-way negotiations, bilateral talks between the DPRK and the United States?

Answer: We welcomed the statement by the government of the DPRK that it was ready to back up the holding of negotiations in a six-sided format. This is a positive step which opens up the prospect of a commencement of the negotiations. We hope that they will commence quite soon, as quickly as possible. Russia is interested in this. A preparatory work to this meeting is under way now. Holding it will be called upon to relax the current tensions, and this is in the interests of all countries, primarily the countries of this region. This concerns Russia and Japan alike, for we are the neighbors of both North and South Korea, and hence our security depends on how we succeed in preventing the origination of an acute new international crisis.

Question: How acute do you think the crisis situation is on the Korean peninsula?

Answer: A crisis dangerous enough. So far it has not yet developed into an active phase. This is why it is important to take necessary measures like a doctor does when he wants by preventive measures to avert an acute outbreak of disease. Diplomats' efforts must be directed towards averting an exacerbation of the situation and resolving it by peaceful political means.

Question: What conditions for holding the six-sided meeting did the North Korean side set forth?

Answer: The North Korean side set forth no conditions and, as I understand, Pyongyang has a keen interest precisely in holding the six-sided talks. As to bilateral issues which may be discussed with some countries, the multilateral format makes a suitable opportunity for that. But no conditions, I want to repeat, are being set forth by the DPRK.

Question: Russia has been consistently advocating a complete and final solution of the problem around the DPRK. An example of this kind of solution can be the agreement between the DPRK and the United States of 1994. From what vantage point or with what proposal will Russia come up at the six-sided negotiations?

Answer: Like the other participants in the negotiations, Russia is now getting ready for them. Our approach is being called a package, or all-embracing one. The meaning of the Russian stand is that this problem needs to be solved by taking all its aspects into consideration. On the one hand, it is important to secure the DPRK's return to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and generally to ensure the nuclear-free status of the Korean peninsula. This is very important. To ensure the observation of the nonproliferation regime is very important likewise. But on the other hand, it is necessary to give security guarantees for the DPRK and to ensure more active participation by the international community in helping North Korea overcome its complex economic problems.

Question: Russia is speaking of its readiness to participate in the framework of a new multilateral format in order to give the DPRK security guarantees. What should that multilateral format look like from Russia's point of view? Which countries should participate in that multilateral format?

Answer: This question will be the subject of consideration of the six countries which will take part in the negotiations. The present format is an optimal one, for it encompasses the most interested countries. It embraces all the immediate neighbors of the DPRK. As to the specific parameters of these guarantees, obviously they will be worked out by agreement with all the participants in the talks. The negotiations have not yet begun and so far they are open to speculation. It is not inconceivable that by analogy with what is currently taking place in the Middle East, a "road map" of its kind may be required where the steps the DPRK will have to take would be tied to what it may get in terms of guarantees for its security and of economic support and humanitarian aid. That was, by the way, the meaning of the framework agreement of 1994.

Question: The 1994 agreement wasn't implemented in full measure. Do you think this will be a resumption of the agreement of 1994 or is it going to be a new agreement?

Answer: A new agreement most likely, but it will have to take into account the experience which we gained when the 1994 agreement was being concluded.

Question: The 1994 agreement was a bilateral agreement between the United States and the DPRK. This time the six-way negotiations and Russia's participation come first. Why do you think Russia needs to participate and what role does Russia want or have to play in this format?

Answer: Russia, undoubtedly, will play an active role in this format. First, Russia is one of the most interested parties in that the crisis around the so-called DPRK nuclear problem would not become exacerbated. Second, Russia is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and one of the nuclear powers. From every point of view for us, for our policy, including in the Asia-Pacific region, it is very important that this problem should be solved by political means, and we intend to facilitate this in every way.

Question: Russia has always been advocating security of this region. Do you think, if this format succeeds, it will be the basis for the construction of a multilateral agreement in the Far East, in this region?

Answer: Now the main task is to overcome the present crisis, to stop its escalation. After we have accomplished that, we shall have to consider, as you say, a multilateral format, confidence building measures, and improving relations among all the countries of this sub-region of Northeast Asia.

Question: Japan, South Korea and the United States have said that they need preliminarily to agree their positions to which they are going to stick at the six-sided negotiations with the DPRK. I think that Russia is also participating in these consultations. Do the positions of all five countries, except the DPRK, coincide? Are there any nuances?

Answer: As I said, the preliminary preparations for the future negotiations between the participants are already under way now. Russia is also holding its preparatory contacts. And we believe that there is a wide field of concurrence of positions. What matters most is the mindset to resolve the problem by peaceful political means.

Question: General opinion is identical - both sides want to see a nuclear-free Korean peninsula. But the United States insists that the DPRK should first cease its nuclear developments, that is to say that there is a nuance, a difference in approach between Russia and the US. How do you assess the present difference?

Answer: I think that strategically there is no great difference in the positions of Russia, and the US, Japan and South Korea and even North Korea, in principle, has spoken favorably with regard to the package approach that has been suggested by the Russian Federation. At issue is rather the tactic of actions, how to implement in practice this package all-embracing approach, which must lead, on the one hand, to a solution of the nuclear question, and on the other, to the security of all states of this region, including the DPRK.

Question: By the recent statement of [Deputy Secretary of State Richard] Armitage, the United States is ready to provide security guarantees to North Korea. But at the same time the media report that there is another approach over there, a tougher approach towards the DPRK. What is your assessment of the current position of the United States? How does this relate to the position of Russia?

Answer: I repeat that we have achieved the most important thing - we have opened up the real prospect of a commencement of the six-sided negotiations and this is very good. But things most difficult are ahead when these negotiations commence. And here it is hard to expect that success will be quick. Obviously all the sides will need to show the utmost patience, a constructive approach, a readiness to hear the arguments of the other side. Subtle, intense diplomatic work will be carried out. Therefore we feel that under these conditions it is important to avoid any sharp gestures, any sharp statements. The main thing is to make maximum use of the chance that has appeared. And to get into a constructive mindset.

Question: How much percentage of success do you see?

Answer: Now I would not engage in such predictions. The important thing is that there is a virtually 90-percent prospect that we shall manage to begin these negotiations, and further we shall see.

Question: The United States wants tough control of the implementation by the DPRK of its abandonment of its nuclear program. What is Russia's opinion?

Answer: The questions of control are of very great importance. The IAEA can play a substantial role in this, considering its experience and reputation. As to other forms and methods, it is a question to be discussed in the course of the upcoming negotiations. But another thing is equally important. It is necessary that there should be ensured the implementation of the other aspects of accords, including those connected with the rendering of economic assistance, for this, as you know, is one of the problems which arose right before the exacerbation of the crisis and it stemmed from the fact that supplies of fuel oil had been discontinued to North Korea.

Question: Perhaps at the base lies the problem of mutual distrust between North Korea and the United States?

Answer: This profound distrust has been in existence for very many years now, indeed many decades, and of course it needs to be overcome. Maybe this will not be accomplished as soon as Russia would like, as Japan would like, but it is necessary to work in this direction. Therefore we regard the upcoming negotiations not only as a first step in solving the problem with which we are now confronted, but also towards the strengthening of trust in the region. ...

Question: Regarding control over the nuclear program, we, of course, want to get a clear-cut confirmation of the fulfillment by the DPRK of its obligations. You feel that different parties, the IAEA, certainly plays an important role, but there is the sad experience that the DPRK concealed its nuclear program, so please say once more that Russia is also for stringent control over the nuclear program of North Korea?

Answer: Russia as an active party to all the agreements, regimes and treaties in the field of nonproliferation, including the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, feels that control is one of the main conditions of ensuring the operation of these regimes and so, unquestionably, control is a must. For this purpose there exists the special organization IAEA and for this purpose there is a whole array of international mechanisms and instruments. Therefore restoring cooperation by the DPRK with the IAEA would be of very great importance. ...

Question: Do the security guarantees for the DPRK include also guarantees for the DPRK's economic security? There is a very deep economic crisis over there after all.

Answer: The crisis is indeed profound, and so it is in the interests of all countries to render assistance to North Korea, because overcoming this crisis will help improve the political situation in the region. Therefore this is also a part of the proposals which Russia has formulated within the framework of its package approach. ...

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