Rice, Lavrov discuss implementation of UN sanctions on N Korea

Moscow, Oct 22 (UNI) Visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held discussions on North Korea's nuclear tests and the implementation of the UN Security Council's Resolution 1718 with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavorv.

''Rice met with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on October 21 as part of her working visit to Russia. The talks, which dealt with the current pressing international issues, focused on specific aspects of the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1718 connected with North Korea's nuclear test,'' the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement today.

''The side also touched upon the Iranian nuclear problem, the West Asian settlement, Iraq and the situation in the Transcaucasus, in the context of the UN Security Council's recent resolution on Georgia'' the statement said.

Meanwhile, Russia has said it was not advisable to recognise North Korea as a nuclear power.

''We do not agree with this. We will do everything in our power to stop such dangerous trends,'' RIA Novosti news agency quoted Lavrov as saying.

He also urged United States and North Korea to take a more flexible approach to their standoff over US external financing restrictions to rescue the six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear programme out of the deadlock.

''Settlement of financial issues in relations between the US and North Korea would be of great importance for creating conditions to resume talks,'' Mr Lavrov highlighted.

The talks over Pyongyang's nuclear programme which involve the two Koreas, the US, Japan, Russia, and China, stalled last November after Washington accused the reclusive regime of counterfeiting US dollars and blocked its access to outside banks.

Ms Rice, now in Moscow to discuss UN sanctions on North Korea in the wake of the October 9 nuclear test, hailed Pyongyang's declared willingness to resume the talks, but said Washington's financial restrictions on Pyongyang would remain in place.

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