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QUESTION: Secretary Barnier just said a few minutes ago that the European, United States, are together fighting against terrorism. My question is the following one: How do you plan to convince the Europeans that we cannot deal with a terrorist regime like Iran, which is, of course, backing terrorism and which is not reliable?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, I think it's well known that we are deeply concerned about both the external and internal behavior of the Iranian regime. It would be a destabilizing matter were Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon under cover of civilian nuclear power development in contravention of its NonProliferation Treaty obligations.

It is also enormously important as we begin just the first steps toward what could be a very fruitful outcome for the people of Israel and the Palestinian territories, that states who are supporting terrorist activities, states who are supporting the very groups that would try and destroy the possibilities for peace, get a clear message that that is not acceptable in -- from the international community.

We have worked closely with the European-3 on their efforts to convince the Iranians to live up to the international obligations. And I have said before and I will say again that the Europeans are giving the Iranians an opportunity to demonstrate that they are prepared to live up to those obligations. I hope the Iranians take the opportunity before them.

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MINISTER BARNIER: (VIA INTERPRETER)

First of all, one word on Iran. Since the situation of Iran, it's a big country and a vocal country, major peoples with the question of stability in that region. We're going forward with our eyes open in this negotiation. And British, German, French, we are in the forefront of European diplomacy, which works, and in the forefront of international community. We believe this political and diplomatic work with which we are committed is by far the best way.

But we're going forward with our eyes open in order to convince the regime in Iran that they should renounce nuclear weapons. That region doesn't need them. And also, we should get involved in an economic process and energy process, political process, which will give it its true, peaceful position supporting stability. And to succeed we need the confidence, the support of Russia, of China, of international community. But we need the confidence and the support of the United States in this very delicate phase within which we are. And that's what the message is that we conveyed to Condi Rice.

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QUESTION: The question, a follow up question on Iran. Unfortunately, neither European diplomatic efforts or American threats seem to be having any effects at the moment on the will of Tehran to pursue its nuclear business. So the question is, isn't it time that Tehran and Washington have or entertain some kind of direct dialogue?

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you. The Iranians know what, precisely what they need to do. And I do want to say we are appreciative of the efforts that the EU-3 is making with the Iranians to give them a path to international -- back to the international community because they clearly are engaged in activities that make everyone suspicious about what they're doing.

But we have several fronts on which we are cooperating and working on the Iranian issue. It is not just the EU-3 effort, though that is very important. It is also the IAEA Board of Governors, which continues to watch the situation, continues to insist on verification measures.

We have had very good cooperation with the Russians, who I think have recognized the proliferation risk of civilian nuclear cooperation with the Iranians if there is not a means by which to take back the fuel and if the Iranians do not sign the additional protocol.

So you are getting a lot of common effort with the Iranians to get them to do what they must do, which is to foreswear any desire or effort to build nuclear weapons under the cover of civilian nuclear power, and to get back to -- to adhere to their international obligations.

We have diplomatic tools before us. What we need is unity of purpose and unity of message to the Iranians. And we should not let the Iranians continue to create new conditions that have to be fulfilled somehow before they are prepared to live up to their international obligations. Everybody knows what the Iranians need to do. They just need to do it.

Yes.

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