SPEECH BY ANGELA MERKEL,
CHANCELLOR OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY,
AT THE MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE
OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL CHANCELLOR
February 10, 2007
Excerpts
. . .
During my recent trip to the Middle East I saw that the threat felt
by many countries regarding events in Iran is dramatically visible
and recognizable. For that reason Iran must fulfil the resolutions
adopted by the UN Security Council and the IAEA Board of Governors.
There is no way around this demand, and it must be fulfilled without
ifs or buts and without tricks. The technology involved is highly sensitive,
and therefore Iran's nuclear programme must be subject to a high degree
of transparency; however, Tehran has not delivered on this. If things
stay that way, Iran risks falling deeper into isolation. Let me repeat
that the international community's offer remains valid. We invited
Iran to cooperate and to do what is right for its people, as Iran is
a country with a proud history and a long cultural heritage. It would
therefore be a good thing for Tehran to integrate into, and submit
to, the international community.
But what we have said to Iran on another issue – and this too means global
responsibility – remains also valid: We cannot in any way accept the
Iranian leadership's threats against Israel. I have several times made it clear
in my talks, and my counterparts have agreed, that we are all determined to
prevent the threat emanating from an Iran with a military nuclear programme.
The recent resolution dealing with sanctions was unanimously adopted by the
UN Security Council. Europe, the US, Russia and China all went along with it.
We must in my opinion try to maintain this signal of solidarity in our further
steps. Global responsibility means espousing the same principles and taking
the same route, even when the going gets tough.
. . .