PM Netanyahu comments on Baghdad talks
Following are remarks that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made about the Baghdad talks, on Friday, 18 May 2012, at a press availability in Prague:
"Obviously, nothing would be better than to see this issue resolved diplomatically. But I have seen no evidence that Iran is serious about stopping its nuclear weapons program. It looks as though they see these talks as another opportunity to deceive and delay just like North Korea did for years.
They may try to go from meeting to meeting with empty promises. They may agree to something in principle but not implement it. They might even agree to implement something that does not materially derail their nuclear weapons program.
Iran is good at playing this chess game. They know that sometimes you have to sacrifice a pawn to save the king. The goal of these negotiations should be very clear:
Updated on May 22, 2012
Following is an excerpt from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks this evening at a Civil Service Commission event:
"In recent weeks, I have heard those who have cast doubt on Iran's intentions. They said that when Iran's leaders declare that they will wipe Israel off the map, they really mean something else in Persian. It would be interesting to hear what they think of the Iranian Chief-of-Staff's remarks yesterday: 'Iran is committed to the complete destruction of Israel.' This is clear and simple. Iran's goals are clear. It wants to annihilate Israel and is developing nuclear weapons to realize this goal.
Iran threatens Israel, peace and the entire world. Against this malicious intention, the world's leading countries must show determination, not weakness. They do not need to make concessions to Iran. They need to set clear and unequivocal demands before it: Iran must halt all enrichment of nuclear material. It must remove from its territory all nuclear material that has been enriched up until now and it must dismantle the underground nuclear facility in Qom. Only thus will it be possible to ensure that Iran will not have a nuclear bomb. This is Israel's position; it has not changed and it will not change."
"Obviously, nothing would be better than to see this issue resolved diplomatically. But I have seen no evidence that Iran is serious about stopping its nuclear weapons program. It looks as though they see these talks as another opportunity to deceive and delay just like North Korea did for years.
They may try to go from meeting to meeting with empty promises. They may agree to something in principle but not implement it. They might even agree to implement something that does not materially derail their nuclear weapons program.
Iran is good at playing this chess game. They know that sometimes you have to sacrifice a pawn to save the king. The goal of these negotiations should be very clear:
- Freeze all enrichment inside Iran.
- Remove all enriched material outside of Iran.
- And dismantle Qom.
Updated on May 22, 2012
Following is an excerpt from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks this evening at a Civil Service Commission event:
"In recent weeks, I have heard those who have cast doubt on Iran's intentions. They said that when Iran's leaders declare that they will wipe Israel off the map, they really mean something else in Persian. It would be interesting to hear what they think of the Iranian Chief-of-Staff's remarks yesterday: 'Iran is committed to the complete destruction of Israel.' This is clear and simple. Iran's goals are clear. It wants to annihilate Israel and is developing nuclear weapons to realize this goal.
Iran threatens Israel, peace and the entire world. Against this malicious intention, the world's leading countries must show determination, not weakness. They do not need to make concessions to Iran. They need to set clear and unequivocal demands before it: Iran must halt all enrichment of nuclear material. It must remove from its territory all nuclear material that has been enriched up until now and it must dismantle the underground nuclear facility in Qom. Only thus will it be possible to ensure that Iran will not have a nuclear bomb. This is Israel's position; it has not changed and it will not change."
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