Sarkozy To POTUS: We live in the real world-not in a virtual one

President Sarkozy (spoke in French):
France fully supports your initiative to hold this meeting, Mr. President, as well as the efforts you have made with Russia to reduce nuclear arsenals.

However, let us speak frankly. We are here to guarantee peace. We are
right to talk about the future.

But the present comes before the future, and the present includes two major
nuclear crises.

The peoples of the entire world are listening to what we are saying, including our
promises, commitments and speeches.

But we live in the real world, not in a virtual one.

We say that we must reduce. President Obama himself has said that he dreams of a world without nuclear weapons. Before our very eyes, two countries are doing exactly the opposite at this very moment.
Since 2005, Iran has violated five Security Council
resolutions.

Since 2005, the international community
has called on Iran to engage in dialogue.

A proposal for dialogue was made in 2005.

A proposal for dialogue was made in 2006.

A proposal for dialogue was made in 2007.

A proposal for dialogue was made in 2008.

And another was made in April 2009.

President Obama, I support America’s extended hand.
But what have those proposals for dialogue produced for the
international community?

Nothing but more enriched uranium and more centrifuges.

And last but not least, it has resulted in a statement by Iranian leaders calling
for wiping off the map a Member of the United Nations.

What are we to do? What conclusion are we to draw? At a certain moment, hard facts will force us to take decisions.

If we want a world without nuclear
weapons in the future, we must not accept violations of
international rules.

I completely understand the differing positions of others. But all of us may one day
be threatened by a neighbour that has acquired nuclear weapons.

Secondly, there is North Korea — and there it is even more striking.

It has violated every Security Council decision since 1993. It pays absolutely no attention to what the international community says. Even more, it continues ballistic testing. How can we
accept that? What conclusions should we draw? I say that also in this case, whatever the opposition, at a certain moment we will all have to unite to adopt sanctions and to ensure that Security Council and United Nations decisions are complied with. Lastly, I share the views of the Presidents of Uganda and China with regard to access to nuclear energy for civilian purposes. We the nuclear Powers must accept the transfer of technology in order that everyone can have access to this clean energy. I should add that this should prevent those claiming to be
carrying out nuclear research for civilian purposes from conflating their activities with military research.

We support the totality of what is contained in the resolution. We also fully support President Obama’s initiative. I hope that we will have the courage together to declare sanctions against countries that violate Security Council resolutions. In doing so, we will confer credibility on our commitment to a future world with fewer nuclear weapons and, perhaps one day, a
world free of nuclear weapons.