Russia's chief delegate to the fourth round of six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue expressed confidence Friday that the talks will resume as scheduled after a recess.

 

"I don't see anything so far that could prevent us from gathering in the week starting August 29," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alexeyev, who headed the Russian delegation at the Beijing talks, told the Interfax News Agency.

 

Alexeyev admitted there are differences between the US and North Korea, but said they will not hinder the resumption of the negotiations.

 

"The very purpose of the negotiations is to settle these disagreements and find solutions," he said.

 

The exact date for resuming the talks has not been decided as yet, he added.

 

The six parties to the talks -- China, the US, Russia, Japan, North and South Korea -- have agreed to take a recess after 13 days of discussions in Beijing and resume the talks in the week starting August 29.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 13, 2005)