Russian Expert: Analogue of "The Road Map" for North Korea

The six-sided negotiations on the Korean problem in Beijing may result in the appearance of a kind of Middle East road map - a stage-by-stage plan for settlement. This opinion was expressed by Alexander Vorontsov, the head of the Korean sector of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in his interview which he gave to RIA Novosti. Taking part in these negotiations will be representatives of the United States, the DPRK, Russia, Japan, China and South Korea.

"It can be said unequivocally that it would be unrealistic to expect a break-through at the first meeting," said Vorontsov. "But it would really be a success if the sides could come to an agreement about the continuation of the negotiation process and would agree with regard to a new meeting," added Alexander Vorontsov.

"It is to be hoped that all the sides will show aspiration for finding a constructive decision and will really start working out a compromise. Of course, this will call for a whole series of such meetings," pointed out the expert. "The most important thing, however, is that the first round of the negotiations in the six-sided format would not be the last one," he added.

"It can be supposed that within the framework of the six-sided negotiations sub-commissions and additional groups will be set up to study separate problems," believes Vorontsov.

"North Korea proposed to conclude a non-aggression treaty with the United States. However, this form cannot work, because such a treaty does not have a chance to be ratified by the Congress. In the course of the negotiations, the sides can come to an agreement about concluding some other kind of document which could be ratified," said Vorontsov. He reminded the correspondent that US Secretary of State Colin Powell , in one of his pronouncements, mentioned the form of a resolution on granting security guarantees to the DPRK. "But this is a subject for negotiations," believes Alexander Vorontsov.