Kouchner: We won't accept nuclear Iran
Photo: AFP
Kouchner 'optimistic' after Israel visit
French foreign minister impressed with Netanyahu's change of heart regarding Palestinian state
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in an interview published Saturday that he had "arrived (in Israel) a pessimist, but left as an optimist from talks with Israeli leaders".
In the interview with France's Liberacion Kouchner added, "We have forgotten that Benjamin Netanyahu was opposed to the establishment of a Palestinian state until he was reelected."
He told the paper, "I could be wrong, but the establishment of a democratic Palestinian state seems the only way to secure Israel's safety, which we very much desire to do."
Regarding the Iranian threat Kouchner said, "Israel has never disguised its suspicions of the threat Iran can achieve by creating a nuclear weapon. Israel warns against this, and it knows France's position."
He added that Iran had not yet responded to offers made by world powers regarding its store of uranium, and said Tehran was engaging in self-destructive behavior.
"If Iran develops a nuclear weapon – this will not be acceptable to us. We must not add another threat to the region," he said.
