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Posted on 01/10/2003 4:55:07 PM PST by CedarDave
January 10, 2003Talks Continue with North Koreans
By David Miles Journal Capitol Bureau
SANTA FE — Gov. Bill Richardson and North Korean diplomats continued talks on Friday, including discussions of North Korea's withdrawal from a global nuclear arms treaty.
Richardson and the diplomats left the Governor's Mansion for a lunch break just before noon, after meeting for nearly four hours. Talks were scheduled to resume at 4 p.m. Friday.
"The talks have been in a very positive atmosphere but very frank," said Billy Sparks, Richardson's spokesman.
Sparks stressed that Richardson is not an official negotiator for the United States but has been in "constant touch" with Secretary of State Colin Powell since talks began Thursday with Han Song Ryol, North Korea's deputy ambassador to the United Nations, and First Secretary Mun Jong Chol.
Sparks said Richardson and the North Korean diplomats had discussed North Korea's recent withdrawal from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and "other concerns the United States has about current North Korean policy."
"Governor Richardson does support the administration's policy," Sparks said.
Richardson, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, had previous dealings with Han. In 1996, while a congressman from New Mexico's 3rd District, Richardson brokered a deal to free an American who was jailed in North Korea on spy charges.
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"Let me be clear. Only the president and the executive branch can speak for the United States." - Secretary of State Madeline Albright, Jan. 2000.
http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0200helms.htm
Here's the score:
Bush - Good PR - He looks like he's willing to do the touchy feely thing. He makes up no concessions, only lets them vent in front of the mic, and gives them a nice lecture on how to follow the rules of the international treaties they are party to.
North Korea - Bad PR - They look like raving lunatics, foaming at the mouth with threats of global destruction. In the face of a 'gunslinger' like Bush, they take his 'generous' offer of talks and use it to threaten, lie, and act generally unhinged.
The Left: Bush looks reasonable - North Korea looks downright cuckoo. When it's time to vote sanctions at the UN, you'll see that Bush is giving the NK's the rope to hang themselves with.
Remember in '94 when we were on "the brink" of war with NK? Right in the middle of the whole thing the Koreans summon Jimmy Carter, who parachutes in and "begins talks". The Clinton morons were so humiliated they bought off NK with food, money and medical supplies.
The Clinton morons never forgave Carter and kept him in permanent exile, away from every White House, presidential function or campaign event for the rest of Tubby's presidency. They also, as usual, took credit for "averting an international crisis". But the Koreans took the aide and began violating the missile agreement immediately.
FADE UP - TODAY:
The Koreans are doing exactly the same thing with Richardson. Only difference...GW.
This should be fun.
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