AKI: Damascus - The Iranian nuclear programme is a dangerous security risk which may lead to a "catastrophic" Israeli military strike, French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned on Thursday.
"Iran is taking a great risk when it continues to arm itself with nuclear arms – of this we are certain – because we may wake up one day and find out that Israel, regardless of who its leader will be, launched an attack," he said.
"The question at hand is not whether such a strike would be legitimate or wise, but rather what we would do in such a scenario. It would be a catastrophe and must be prevented."
During a two-day visit to Damascus, Sarkozy urged Israel and Syria to hold direct talks, adding that France would be willing to sponsor direct negotiations when appropriate.
"It is very important that the time for Syria and Israel to talk directly comes soon, to build the peace that everyone needs," Sarkozy told a joint media conference with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The French president was speaking at the opening of a summit on Middle East security being held in Damascus with the leaders of Syria, Turkey and Qatar.
After arriving in Damascus on Wednesday, Sarkozy asked Al-Assad to persuade its ally Iran to cooperate with the international community and curtail its nuclear ambitions. Syria: A Nuclear Iran May Provoke Israeli Strike, Says Sarkozy >>> | September 4, 2008
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