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Clinton. Nuclear Iran 'unacceptable'
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Netanyahu. Important speech
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Clinton: Nukes won't ensure Iran's safety

In interview with CNN, US secretary of state responds to Minister Meridor's criticism that 'defense umbrella' her country intends to extend to region indicates her acceptance of a nuclear Iran. They misunderstood me, she says. She also emphasizes US 'working from position of friendship' with Israel

WASHINGTON - The United States will not accept a nuclear Iran. This is the main message coming out of an interview US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton gave to CNN on Sunday.

 

During the interview, Clinton responded to the criticism Intelligence and Atomic Energy Minister Dan Meridor leveled at her recently for a statement that her country intends to extend a "defense umbrella" to the Middle East, saying that such a move is tantamount to acquiescing to Iran's nuclear aspirations.

 

"I think they misunderstood what I was saying. I said, 'defense umbrella,' I didn't specific what kind of defensive measures might be available to those in the region," countered Clinton.

 

"We do not intend to accept nuclear weapons by Iran. We think that is unacceptable," the stateswoman explained. "But I clearly was sending a message to Iran and we've obviously explained that to our friends in Israel. But the message was to make clear to whoever is making decisions in Iran these days, particularly about something as important as their nuclear weapons potential.

 

"If they believed that this would give them a more secure position, a greater capacity to influence events, to intimidate their neighbors, to expand the reach of their ideology, they were mistaken," she continued.

 

"But for the sake of argument, and for the sake of their calculus, if that is among their objectives, they need to think again, because they will render their position less secure, they will trigger an arms race in the region and they will certainly put greater pressure on the United States to extend a defense umbrella in order to hem in and contain them."

 

US commitment to Israel's safety 'non-negotiable'

On talks between Israel and US special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell on placing a moratorium on settlement building in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, Clinton said: "We're in the midst of the very intense negotiations that Senator Mitchell is carrying out. And I think both Israel and the United States are working from a position of friendship, a durable partnership, a commitment by the United States to the security of Israel, which is absolutely imperative and non-negotiable."

 

"But there are steps we would like to see all of the parties take in order to maximize the chances for success of the negotiations to reach a comprehensive peace that results in a two-state solution. And there are areas where Senator Mitchell is hammering out the details with the Israelis, with the Palestinians, with Arab countries. And I'm actually cautiously optimistic that we will be able to tee-up negotiations.

 

The secretary of state spoke of the importance of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Bar-Ilan speech, "where he accepted the two-state solution."

 

She also stressed that both Israel and the Palestinians were setting tough conditions, but that they would have to compromise. "You know, that's politics, that's negotiations. I mean, people are likely to end up in a place that makes neither of them happy. And then the rest of us can say, well, that's probably a good outcome," she said.

 

"Now there is no guarantee. These are very, very difficult issues to resolve. But I think that starting with Prime Minister Netanyahu's important speech where he accepted the two-state solution laid out," said Clinton 

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.09.09, 20:03
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