Iran’s Remarks

EU leaders condemn Iran's comments

European leaders today condemned in the “strongest terms” a call by Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, for Israel to be “wiped off the map.”

The EU leaders gathered for an informal summit at Hampton Court said that his comments were “manifestly inconsistent” with a claim to membership of the international community.

They said in a statement: “Calls for violence, and for the destruction of any state are manifestly inconsistent with any claim to be a mature and responsible member of the international community.

“Such comments will cause concern about Iran’s role in the region and its future intention.”

“The fact that these comments were made on the same day as a horrific attack on Israeli civilians should re-enforce the lesson that incitement to violence, and the terrorism that it breeds, are despicable and unacceptable acts.”

The statement said that the EU remained committed to a solution to the Arab-Israeli dispute based on the principles of two states living side by side in peace and security (Ireland Online, 10/27/2005).

[TBC: It is one thing to condemn remarks, it is another thing to reverse a history of accommodation with terrorists.]