DAMASCUS (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned Iran on Thursday it was taking a dangerous gamble in seeking to develop nuclear weapons because one day its arch-foe Israel could strike. Western powers accuse Iran of seeking the atom bomb under the cover of a civilian nuclear programme but Tehran insists it only wants to master atomic technology to generate electricity. The United States and Israel have not ruled out military action if the dispute cannot be settled through diplomacy. "Iran is taking a major risk in continuing the process to obtain a military nuclear capacity," Sarkozy told a meeting in Damascus with the leaders of Syria, Turkey and Qatar.
DAMASCUS (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned Iran on Thursday it was taking a dangerous gamble in seeking to develop nuclear weapons because one day its arch-foe Israel could strike.
Western powers accuse Iran of seeking the atom bomb under the cover of a civilian nuclear programme but Tehran insists it only wants to master atomic technology to generate electricity.
The United States and Israel have not ruled out military action if the dispute cannot be settled through diplomacy.
"Iran is taking a major risk in continuing the process to obtain a military nuclear capacity," Sarkozy told a meeting in Damascus with the leaders of Syria, Turkey and Qatar.
SYRIA: PRESIDENT NICOLAS Sarkozy's two-day visit to Damascus got off to a bad start yesterday when it became apparent that he and the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad are engaged in a dialogue of the deaf regarding the Iranian nuclear programme. Matters were further complicated when the Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan first cancelled his attendance at a meeting with Mr Sarkozy, Mr Assad and the Emir of Qatar here today, then relented on condition the summit be moved forward by an hour or more. At a press conference in the Syrian presidential palace, Mr Sarkozy stressed repeatedly that he expected Mr Assad to convey to Tehran how serious the crisis over the Iranian nuclear programme has become. "I told [Assad] again Iran must not possess nuclear weapons," Mr Sarkozy said. "An Iranian nuclear weapon would be a threat to peace throughout the region and the world." Mr Sarkozy slighted his Arab host by purporting to explain the Syrian president's position in his presence: "The position of President Assad is that the possession of nuclear weapons by anyone would be a problem," Mr Sarkozy said.
SYRIA: PRESIDENT NICOLAS Sarkozy's two-day visit to Damascus got off to a bad start yesterday when it became apparent that he and the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad are engaged in a dialogue of the deaf regarding the Iranian nuclear programme.
Matters were further complicated when the Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan first cancelled his attendance at a meeting with Mr Sarkozy, Mr Assad and the Emir of Qatar here today, then relented on condition the summit be moved forward by an hour or more.
At a press conference in the Syrian presidential palace, Mr Sarkozy stressed repeatedly that he expected Mr Assad to convey to Tehran how serious the crisis over the Iranian nuclear programme has become. "I told [Assad] again Iran must not possess nuclear weapons," Mr Sarkozy said. "An Iranian nuclear weapon would be a threat to peace throughout the region and the world."
Mr Sarkozy slighted his Arab host by purporting to explain the Syrian president's position in his presence: "The position of President Assad is that the possession of nuclear weapons by anyone would be a problem," Mr Sarkozy said.
Syria said four-way talks in Damascus, which include EU President Nicolas Sarkozy, have made headway toward opening diplomatic ties with Lebanon and negotiating a peace with Israel. The summit, on current regional conflicts, was led by Syrian President Bahsar Assad, and attended by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is current president of the European Union; the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani; and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The announcement that Syria and Lebanon would open ties was broadcast on Arabic television. Furthermore, Assad told the summit that his country had handed proposals for peace with Israel to Turkish mediators, and is waiting for Israel's response before holding any face-to-face negotiations. He didn't disclose any details on the proposals.
The summit, on current regional conflicts, was led by Syrian President Bahsar Assad, and attended by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is current president of the European Union; the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani; and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The announcement that Syria and Lebanon would open ties was broadcast on Arabic television.
Furthermore, Assad told the summit that his country had handed proposals for peace with Israel to Turkish mediators, and is waiting for Israel's response before holding any face-to-face negotiations. He didn't disclose any details on the proposals.
What is it with some people that seem to think Israel should just be able to bomb what it likes, when it likes without any useful justification whatsoever ? It's like the US NIE never happened. keep to the Fen Causeway
I'm an American and we can do ANYTHING we want, so GET USED TO IT!
Republicans rule!!! Booze and hookers for everyone! WOOOO! In the end, might makes right. Nothing has changed since the caveman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz59R-FmQpQ In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
