PRESIDENT OF ISRAEL SPOKESPERSON'S OFFICE
Jerusalem,
24 January 2012

PRESIDENT SHIMON PERES MEETS WITH EU HIGH REPRESENTATIVE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
AND SECURITY POLICY CATHERINE ASHTON

President Shimon Peres this evening (Tuesday), 24.1.12, at his Jerusalem
residence, held a working meeting with European Union High Representative
for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.

At the start of the meeting, President Peres referred to the sanctions which
the EU has imposed on Iran and said that, "I want to express our
appreciation for the last resolutions taken by the EU. I understand you led
this process and I hope it will really bear fruits. Everything that can be
done early and peacefully is better than later and dangerously." He added
that, "We are very much encouraged by this move and I have a very high
regard for this achievement but it does not solve the problem. Naturally,
because we talk so much about the nuclear side of this issue, we forget that
Iran is the most illegitimate center of terror in the world. We (Israel)
feel it with Hamas; Iran smuggles and sends them arms and weapons that can
endanger Israel. Iran finances Hamas and splits the Palestinian people.
The same goes for Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran's government is the most
corrupt government politically and morally that I can think of. I don’t
know if they will submit to the call of Europe and the call of the United
States and if they do, will they then do as they say, but it was a
courageous move and the right one to take. So while not forgetting the other
side, we have to appreciate the step that you took under these very
complicated circumstances."

Regarding the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, President
Peres said that, "Abu Mazen and Salam Fayyad are important partners for
peace. We must encourage the forces of peace; otherwise we will strengthen
the forces of terror. A formula must be found to enable the continuation of
the contacts, resume the negotiations and overcome artificial timetables."

EU High Representative Ashton replied that, "The significance of yesterday
is that the European Union stands together in sending a clear message to the
government of Iran that we wish to go back to negations, to invite them to
pick up the issues that we left on the table in Istanbul a year ago, to
invite them to consider the ideas that we put forward and indeed to invite
them to put forward ideas of their own and to move forward away from the
path that would lead to the acquisition of nuclear weapons. We have
obligations as the international community to put the pressure on to make
that happen but as you say, our aim is a peaceful one – it is to try to find
a way through this that will see Iran make that choice and as you rightly
say also help with the security of the whole region. We will continue to
work with our political allies to achieve that. It is my objective and I
send that message to the government of Iran everywhere I go - I am ready to
resume those negations as soon as they are ready to show that they are
serious about wishing to do so."

For further information:

Ayelet Frish – Spokesperson for the President of Israel – 050-6205111

Meital Jaslovitz – Assistant Spokesperson
for the President – 050-4205230