Foreign Minister Tuomioja denounces the Iranian President's statement on Israel

At an anti-Zionism conference yesterday, 26 October, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President of Iran, stated that “Israel must be wiped off the map". Finland expresses deep disapproval of the Iranian president's comment, which cannot be without effect on relations between Iran and all EU Member States. Under no circumstances are threats of violence acceptable - not even when rhetorical. Today, 27 October, the EU heads of state and government leaders gathered for the summit meeting at Hampton Court have jointly condemned the Iranian president's statement.