EU Leaders Issue Warning for Iran

Radio Free Europe:

European Union leaders have formally condemned Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's remarks on Israel, and warned that time is running out for a diplomatic solution on the Iranian nuclear issue. In a statement adopted early today at the end of a summit in Brussels, Belgium, the leaders of the 25 EU member states condemned as "wholly unacceptable" Ahmadninejad's call for the eradication of Israel and his denial of the World War II Holocaust of Jews.

The statement called on Iran to join the international consensus on the need for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The statement also said the EU is gravely concerned over Iran's failure to build confidence that the Iranian nuclear program is exclusively peaceful. It said the EU continues to work towards a diplomatic solution, but that the window of opportunity for such a solution will not remain open indefinitely.

EU and Iranian representatives are due to hold their next meeting on the nuclear issue on 21 December in Vienna, Austria.