President Peres to Prime Minister Monti of Italy:It seems these unprecedented sanctions are beginning to have an effect. We must stop Iran being a center of terror and a danger to humanity, the civilian way is preferable to a military option but all options remain on the table.
Prime Minister Monti to President Peres:
Although Italy is further away from Iran geographically, we are no less concerned about the threat from Iran. That is why we have played a central role in the sanctions on Iran. The President of the State of Israel, President Shimon Peres, conducted a work meeting with the Prime Minister of Italy, Mr. Mario Monti, at which they discussed the Iranian nuclear threat, regional developments including the situation in Syria and the bilateral relations between the two countries. President Peres praised Italy's role in the unprecedented sanctions regime against Iran and said, "The aim should be to stop the Iranian threat without a war, no-one wants a war. We don't want to see bloodshed of any kind and we have nothing against the Iranian people but we have to stop Iran being a center of terror and a danger to humanity. It seems that these unprecedented sanctions are beginning to have an effect. If it can be achieved in a civilian way, that's the best way. The alternative to sanctions is bloodshed." President Peres also stressed the strong economic ties between the two countries with bilateral trade reaching $4.4 billion in 2012.
Prime Minister Monti thanked President Peres for his comments and said that although Iran was further away from Italy geographically they are no less concerned about the threat. Prime Minister Monti expressed his support for the close relations between the two countries, which he described as being of mutual benefit to the two countries, and the cooperation which exists in a range of fields including foreign policy, defense, justice, research and business.
Photo Mark Neeman/GPO
