More Quotes
I was briefed over the weekend on the major powers’ talks with Iran on the nuclear issue. The American representative briefed National Security Adviser Yaakov Amidror on these talks. My impression from these talks is that the only thing that was achieved was to stall for time during which Iran intends to continue enriching nuclear material for an atomic bomb, and it is indeed continuing toward this goal.
US Secretary of State John Kerry: “No nation, no people should live in fear of their so-called leaders… The United States’ decision to take further steps now is the result of the brutality of superior armed force propped up by foreign fighters from Iran and Hezbollah, all of which threatens to destroy Syria.”
Brigadier General (Ret.) Michael Herzog: “There is a huge conventional strategic stockpile [of weapons] in Syria. When Assad falls, who controls this stockpile?…This [the Syrian stockpile] could make the situation even worse. It is a bigger stockpile and some of the weapons are the most sophisticated imaginable…Weapons from the Libya conflict have turned up in Syria, Gaza, Sinai, Mali. It’s everywhere. It is all over the Middle East. If you add this to the fact that jihadist groups are mushrooming all over the Middle East… it is very dangerous.”
(source: the Times)
Michael Mann, spokesman for the EU’s foreign-policy chief, Catherine Ashton: “Iran needs to understand that there is an urgent need to make concrete and tangible progress in the talks..I would say that from our perspective, the onus is very much on the Iranians.”
(source: Washington Post)
Foreign Secretary William Hague: “…Iran’s nuclear programme poses a threat to peace and security of the whole world. Talks between the E3+3 [P5+1] and Iran will take place in Kazakhstan tomorrow. We approach these talks in good faith. However Iran should not doubt our resolve to ensure that nuclear proliferation in the Middle East is prevented.”
(Source: FCO website)
Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt: “Iran’s installation of more advanced centrifuges at its enrichment plant at Natanz is of serious concern. It represents yet another breach of United Nations Security Council and IAEA Board resolutions, and is another signal that Iran has no intention of providing the necessary reassurance to the international community that its nuclear programme is for purely peaceful purposes.”
(source: FCO website)