September 1, 2003	Monday	Rajab 3, 1424

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BEIJING, Aug 31: Russia’s top negotiator on North Korea said on Sunday the just-concluded six-nation talks on the North Korea nuclear crisis were “highly meaningful,” Chinese media said, despite the lack of apparent progress.

A day after North Korea dismissed the talks as “useless,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov said before leaving Beijing that the three-day meeting was “conducive,” Xinhua news agency said.

Mr Losyukov was cited as saying it was highly meaningful that all six parties exchanged opinions and explained their positions.

He said that only through talks could denuclearization of the Korean peninsula be guaranteed and the interests of all parties concerned be safeguarded, according to Xinhua.

Mr Losyukov also praised China for hosting the talks, complimenting China for “creating every necessary condition for the talks to be constructive and fruitful.”

The Russian delegation was the last to leave Beijing following the talks that also included Japan, the United States and South Korea.

Three days of dialogue concluded on Friday without any tangible result.

Mr Losyukov, who led the Russian delegation, denied claims on Saturday by US officials that Pyongyang had threatened to conduct a nuclear test during the talks.

His comments seemed aimed to soothe the charged atmosphere that followed Pyongyang’s vow to strengthen its nuclear arsenal if Washington failed to provide guarantees for the security of the regime.—AFP