More Quotes
US President Barack Obama: “Our commitment to Israel’s security must not waver, and neither must our pursuit of peace. The Iranian government must face a world that stays united against its nuclear ambitions. The historic change sweeping across the Arab world must be defined not by the iron fist of a dictator or the hate of extremists, but by the hopes and aspirations of ordinary people who are reaching for the same rights that we celebrate here today.”
Source: NPR
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon: “We cannot look the other way while the increasing sectarian violence spirals out of control, the humanitarian emergency escalates and the crisis spills over borders. And indeed, the UN family is doing everything it can on the ground to help those fleeing from the violence. Our observer Mission, while it was in Syria, sought to gather reliable, real-time information about events so that nobody can claim they did not know. But these efforts will not avert the worst if they are not accompanied by action by influential Governments to find a political solution. The Council’s paralysis does the Syrian people harm. It also damages its own credibility and weakens a concept that was adopted with such hope and expectations.”
Source: United Nations
Foreign Secretary William Hague: “Our objective remains an end to the violence and a transition to a more democratic and stable Syria. This is the only way to avoid protracted civil war, the collapse of the Syrian state, an even greater exodus of refugees and further appalling loss of life.
This is not just our view or the view of other Western countries, it is the view of the Arab League and the vast majority of UN member states. And I particularly welcome the recent strong statement by President Mursi of Egypt condemning the Assad regime’s actions.
Despite our best efforts the United Nations Security Council has been unable to put its full weight and authority behind a peaceful resolution of the crisis. On three occasions we have tried with our allies to adopt a Security Council Resolution that would require the regime to begin a political transition, rather than simply call on it to do so. On each occasion Russia and China have used their vetoes, most recently on the 19th July. It is a terrible indictment of the Council that approximately a quarter of all those who have been killed in Syria died in the month following the last vetoed resolution.”
Source: Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Former director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Michael Hayden: “I do not underestimate the Israeli talent, but geometry and physics tell us that Iran’s nuclear program would pose a difficult challenge to any military, as it is not a raid, and Israel’s resources are more limited than those of the US. While it is probably true that the so-called ‘window’ regarding effective action is closing, there is still some time, as real decisions are to be made in 2013 or 2014. ”
Source: Haaretz
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “The Iranians are using the talks with the major powers to gain time in order to advance their nuclear project. I believe that the truth must be told – the international community is not setting Iran a clear red line and Iran does not see international determination to stop its nuclear project. Until Iran sees a clear red line and such determination, it will not stop the progress of its nuclear project – and Iran must not be allowed to have nuclear weapons.”
Source: PM Office
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon: “I strongly reject threats by any member state to destroy another or outrageous attempts to deny historical facts such as the Holocaust.”