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| Remarks by the President at Working Dinner with Foreign Ministers of the G8 Nations 10 May 2006 |
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| The Marx Guilligan Hall The Chateau 10.15 PM (WST) THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. First and foremost I want to welcome all the Foreign Secretaries of the G8 nations here with us, of course I want to thank Secretary Morrision for hosting them all. (Laugther) from the United States, Condoleezza Rice, the United Kingdom, Minsiter Margret Beckett, France, Philippe Douste-Blazy, welcome and thanks for being here - Germany,Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Italy, Gianfranco Fini - Japan, Taro Aso - Canada, Peter MacKay, and Russia, Sergei Lavrov. We had a fruitful working dinner earlier on in the State Dining Room, and I discussed with these leaders about the pressing issues of the G8 this year. The leaders of the G8 have important issues to dicuss. We want to touch on the points of climate change, and to ensure that we do ont fall behind ont eh communiques discussed and set forth at Gleneagles last year. We taked about Africa, the Darfur crisis and of course the Iranian issues which some brought up. We discussed energy, Oil, Economy, Globalisation, and Education. I think we talked about as well about Climate Change, I hope it features more though over your talks the next two days. (Laughter) With that I think I can take one question. And as we agreed, it would be Josh. Q: Thankyou Sir, I wanted ask you about the letter from President Ahmadi-Nejad, to the United States I mean, you've said that Iran is threat from a state that the Federation and perhaps the world faces. If they're willing to talk to us, don't we risk something by not being willing to talk to them? THE PRESIDENT: Well, that is a question ment for Dr. Rice (Laughter) I cannot comment on an issue address to the Untied States President. I did not say it was a threat. Let me first say that we have looked at it. We've not done our own translation of it, which of course we will do and we'll look at in greater depth. But the first read of it, there is nothing in this letter that in any way addresses any of the issues really that are on the table in the international community -- the nuclear program -- in a straightforward way -- the terrorism issue. I think it would be best to say it's broadly philosophical in its character; it's 17 or 18 pages, I think. And it is most assuredly not a proposal. Let me be very clear about that. And so we'll do further examination of it, but there is nothing in here that would suggest that we're on any different course than we were before we got the letter. Please ask Dr. Rice on this. (Laugther) Q: When you say it's philosophical, is it a rant? Is it hostile or is it friendly? THE PRESIDENT: Jacob, thanks for the intrusion. I'm really not in a position to comment. But I want to say this - the Federation will not, and I repeat will nto engage in Military action should certian nations be compelled to do so, as in the past. I, and the Government of this nation has made it clear, and I will do so again, that will will continue to persue diplomatic ties - and I hope the United Nations will suceed diplomatically this time, for once. I think it is important to note the reason the United Nations exisits. Let it not be undermined this time. I think that would be it, so thanks for coming. END |