Fourth Round of Six-Party Talks: Early Evening Transit St. Regis Hotel

A/S HILL: Not a lot to report today. We had bilateral meetings earlier this morning with the Japanese. We met later over lunch with the Russian delegation. We also met with the Chinese. In addition to that, we provided some comments that we had on the latest Chinese draft. We understand some delegations have also provided their comments. We don’t know if the D.P.R.K. delegation has provided comments and we haven’t heard from the D.P.R.K. delegation on this subject. So, probably we’ll be going back out to the Diaoyutai and we’ll probably know later today.

QUESTION: Will there be a head delegates meeting?

A/S HILL: Right now as I understand there’s nothing scheduled. We’re waiting. The Chinese side has received comments on their draft. Presumably they’ll try to put those comments together. They’ve asked us for some further explanation on some of our comments so Ambassador Detrani will be going out. Otherwise we’re waiting to hear whether they’re going to convene another six party meeting. We don’t know again what the status of the D.P.R.K. comments or attitude to the Chinese draft is.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) Peaceful use.

A/S HILL: Well, you know I haven’t been really telling you what’s in the draft and I might as well keep that up since it’s been 10 days now.

QUESTION: How long do you think you’ll be in Beijing?

A/S HILL: Well, that’s a good question. Certainly one does get the sense that we’re getting to the end game here and probably in terms of negotiations this was probably the lightest day yet. It consisted really of providing comments, having some conversations with the Chinese, Russians and Japanese and mainly waiting to get word from the Chinese.

QUESTION: You mentioned the possibility of another talks today -- six-party talks?

A/S HILL: I -- nothing’s over around here but I suspect the Chinese may want further discussions and we’d be happy to do whatever the host would like us to do in that regard.

QUESTION: Are your comments today different from previous comments, for the draft?

A/S HILL: Well, as I said yesterday, the Chinese gave us a draft yesterday. They asked us to get it back to capitals for comments from capitals. We did that overnight and this morning I had a conversation with senior people in Washington and, on the basis of that conversation, we also received it in written form. We took our comments back to the Chinese, delivered them at about noontime today. I think some other delegations had comments as well and so we just have to wait to see what the Chinese want to do with the draft.

QUESTION: Do you think the negotiation process is going smoothly?

A/S HILL: Well, I think we’re really getting to the end of the negotiating process. I’m not going to predict that it’s over today or tomorrow I just don’t know, but certainly in terms of the negotiating process for this week, for this past 10 days -- seems like 10 weeks, but it’s only been 10 days --  I think we are getting to the end of this.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, have you heard any complaints on the text by the North Koreans even through the Chinese?

A/S HILL: Well, I haven’t been in touch with the North Koreans on that. I presume that they have some concerns about the text. The last time there was a discussion on the text it was in yesterday’s six party head of delegation meeting and it seemed that the North Koreans had a different perspective on the text than that of the other five. So, I don’t know where the D.P.R.K. stands on the text at this point. You’d have to ask them.

QUESTION: (Inaudible)

A/S HILL: We basically think it’s a good text. We have some comments but we’re pretty sure we could work out our comments. We’re pretty sure we could work with the Chinese text.

QUESTION: I know the North Koreans haven’t commented but the other delegations?

A/S HILL: My understanding is that other delegations have sent in rather minimal comments and are essentially comfortable with the text. I mean I can’t speak for other delegations and also you know when you say you support a text you have to see what the text finally looks like. A number of us have given comments so my sense is that these comments that I’ve heard of from a couple of the other delegations can be incorporated. I think our comments can be incorporated. So, I don’t know where the D.P.R.K.’s comments are or whether they’ve even delivered comments at this point.

QUESTION: (Inaudible)

A/S HILL: The Chinese asked us all to respond by this afternoon. I don’t know if everybody did and I don’t know whether the Chinese were giving extensions or not but we were able to get our comments in. They asked for comments by mid-afternoon and we got ours in about noontime.

QUESTION: Have you discussed the idea of a recess with other delegations?

A/S HILL: We have not -- the U.S. delegation has not discussed the possibility of recess. I know there’s some speculation on that, but we came here to try and reach an agreement and that’s been our whole approach in this negotiation. We have done everything we could do. We’ve talked to everyone we could talk to. We have, I think, shown a certain amount of flexibility dealing with this tough issue. So, I think like a lot of things in life, you have to ask yourself, "Have you done everything you can do?" And, when you’ve done everything you could do, you should feel pretty relaxed about it and that’s kind of the way I feel right now. So, thank you very much. Your ordeal is coming to an end I’m sure. Thank you. See you later.