Ralph Cossa Quotations

My sense is they haven't made much progress.

On North Korea, I find it very interesting Bush publicly said you need to make more use of your leverage. For Bush to say this publicly reflects a certain amount of frustration.

I think there's some understanding that if we back off for now, the Chinese will make some movement on currency.

Well, it has been the US desire all along to say if the North Koreans aren't serious, we need to take this (dispute) to the UN Security Council but it is the others who have blocked it.

Both sides want to demonstrate that they are not the problem.

South Korea is seen as a U.S. ally and would not be seen as a neutral nation in the eyes of many of the countries in the world.

A real breakthrough still remains possible if the other five parties can avoid being distracted by the light-water reactor issue and insist with one voice that Pyongyang start charting a clear path toward accomplishing agreed objectives,

This is the South Koreans' premier moment to shine so you can almost guarantee the North Koreans will be doing something.

It's been a longstanding relationship and the Chinese attach a great deal of importance to it. Pakistan's been a good client, a good purchaser of Chinese goods.

The North Koreans always like to do something to upstage the South.