By IPS Correspondents
MOSCOW, Apr 15 2003 (IPS)

Russia is ready to take part in multilateral consultations on North Korea’s nuclear program, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov said.

He said on Tuesday that Moscow "is ready to participate in the discussion, relying on the experience and groundwork of both the North Korean and the US sides".

"We will actively use these possibilities, as any conflict on the Korean Peninsula absolutely does not suit us," Losyukov said.

Moscow has positively met the US’ latest statements regarding North Korea.

Losyukov said "Washington has read a signal from Pyongyang about a readiness for different formats of talks on the nuclear problem on certain conditions", Itar-Tass reported.

Russia "never refused a multilateral format of talks on North Korea", he said.

"The multilateral format can be useful as an ‘umbrella’ for conducting dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang."

"It is important that contacts of North Korea and the US happen in the frame of the multilateral discussion," Losyukov said.

He added that the latest statements from Pyongyang and Washington "give a certain reason for optimism".

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