Backgrounder: Berlin meeting paves way for six-party talks

Source: CCTV.com | 02-08-2007 14:33

US negotiator Christopher Hill says an agreement similar to the 1994 US-DPRK pact reached in Geneva could be produced.

Although a final deal is far away, analysts say changes in US policy are allowing progress to be made. For more on that, we start with the meeting in Berlin.

After two previous visits, the DPRK convoy is no stranger to the US embassy in Berlin.

The meetings took place without the participation of China, Japan, South Korea and Russia.

Analysts say the fact that the talks occurred at all is significant.

Professor Yan Xuetong, Tsinghua University, said, "Because the US policy is that the US does not accept any bilateral talks with the DPRK. Now they say that the bilateral talk with DPRK and Germany is part of the six-party talks the question is not the name, whether it is bilateral or multilateral, the fact is that US and DPRK held bilateral talk two weeks ago in German. They did that and they also reached some agreements."

A week after the talks, US officials announced the resumption of negotiations over financial curbs against Pyongyang.

The issue stalled the last round of six-party talks in December, as the DPRK's demands over the bank dispute met firm resistance from the US side.But now, Hill suggests roadblocks like this can be cleared.

Hill said, "From all accounts it was a very useful couple of days' discussions and it continued on the process that was begun in December."

On January 30th, US Treasury Official Daniel Glaser arrived in Beijing for financial talks.

A Japanese news agency reported that part of the Berlin agreement included the US considering the release of some of the 24 million dollars in Pyongyang's accounts.

The US Treasury had labeled the accounts at Macao's Banco Delta Asia as primary money-laundering concerns.

Now US officials say the accounts are being scrutinized to see if some of the money could be considered legitimate.Some observers say these previously-resisted compromises from Washington show that US President George W. Bush is desperate for a foreign-policy win.

Professor Yu Meihua, China Reform Forum, said, "For Bush, his popularity is plummeting and embattled by the crises with Iraq and Iran. With Democrats taking over Congress and the 2008 presidential election process underway, the White House has been urged to make a breakthrough on this diplomatic front."

The compromises from the US side may smooth the way for progress in the six-party talks. But analysts say it will still be difficult to achieve real denuclearization and not just a freeze in DPRK's nuclear program.When both side finally meet on Thursday afternoon, there is no certainty of a breakthrough.

Editor:Du Xiaodan