By NNN-KUNA,
United Nations : French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the current President of the European Union, has said that Europe will not allow a nuclear Iran threaten the region.
“Europe is saying to Iran that it respects that country, that Iran has the right to nuclear energy and that we will explore all avenues of dialogue.
“But it is saying to Iran with the same sincerity that it cannot accept a nuclear-armed Iran which would endanger the peace and stability of an entire region, nor can it tolerate Iran calling for the destruction of the State of Israel,” Sarkozy told the General Assembly on its first day of general debate Tuesday.
“Europe is telling Israel that it is a friend, that it will let no one threaten its existence, that we will always be at Israel’s side to fight terrorism.
“But it is equally telling Israel with the same sincerity that there will be no peace until there is a viable Palestinian state with recognised borders,” he added.
He stressed that Europe will continue to stand by Afghanistan’s side and will not permit the Taliban allied with al Qaeda again to take a people hostage and turn an entire country into a terrorist base.
He also pledged that Europe will help Somalia, with the UN help, to combat the scourge of piracy off its coasts.
He said: “Europe does not want war. It does not want a war of civilisation. It does not want a war of religion. It does not want a cold war. Europe wants peace, and peace is always possible when one truly wants it.”
Sarkozy later told a press conference that “time is against Iran and against peace.”
“Nuclear weapons in the hands of Mr Ahmadinejad is unacceptable because this is a huge risk to peace around the world,” he stressed.
Fortunately, he added, there are other people in Iran one can talk to and “we have to talk. But as long as the current Iranian leadership doesn’t wish to understand, France and the EU are clearly in favour of strengthening sanctions.”
He said Russia and China should be associated with this matter because “when we are involved, we can avoid the worst.”
For that reason, he explained, he got into contact with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad because “I am convinced that in view of the historic ties between Syria and Iran, President Al-Assad can help us to get Iran to move ahead…Al Assad can transmit messages because he enjoys the confidence of Iran.”
“My fear is that the international community is giving the impression that it is not interested any more in what for me is the most serious potential crisis and that we will wake up one day with a further crisis on our hand. At that time we cannot say we were not aware of the situation,” he warned.
He said Iran is playing with the world on this question of “good nuclear power. And this is a major risk and part of the Iranian leadership is relying on the inactivity of the international community.”