Friday, 12 December 2008

AFP Paris, Dec 11, 2008 (excerpts) – France once more condemned Iran’s threats against Israel on Thursday, maintaining its position after Tehran summoned the French ambassador to protest at remarks by President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Sarkozy, whose government has taken a tough stance against Tehran over its nuclear drive, said Wednesday he could not sit at the same table as his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has questioned Israel’s right to exist.
“The declarations of the Iranian authorities questioning this right are unacceptable and can only have a negative effect on the perception of Iran by the international community,” said a French foreign ministry spokesman.
“As for our relations with Iran, our attitude remains based on an approach that combines firmness with openness to dialogue,” he said.