DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - ISRAEL/SLOVAKIA/IRAN: SLOVAKIA JOINS THE "IRAN SHOULDN'T GET THE BOMB" CAMP

Slovakian FM to 'Post': We stand with Israel against Iran
By TOVAH LAZAROFF

Slovakia is the second member of the UN Security Council this week to pledge diplomatic support for Israel's efforts to stymie Iran's drive to develop nuclear weapons.

Slovakian Foreign Minister Jan Kubis said his country stood behind Israel on the issue, in meetings in Jerusalem with officials and politicians on Tuesday and Wednesday, including his counterpart, Tzipi Livni, and former deputy defense minister MK Ephraim Sneh.

"I was able to confirm that the position of Israel and the position of my country are very similar," Kubis told The Jerusalem Post.

On Monday, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi also backed Israel's diplomatic efforts against Iran's nuclear program, particularly the use of sanctions.

Both Slovakia and Italy have two year seats on the 15-member council. Slovakia completes its term at the end this year, and Italy in 2008.

Kubis said his country had been instrumental in passing anti-Iran resolutions in the UN even though Slovakia had diplomatic relations with Teheran.

The way forward, he said, was a two-track approach of negotiations and sanctions.

"We would like to be sure that whatever is happening, Iran is not creating a potential that would lead to nuclear weapons," said Kubis. "We are in favor of negotiated solutions," but when they do not work, Slovakia does not "hesitate to show our displeasure publicly, individually, in the EU and on the Security Council," he said.

His government is of the opinion that anything that permits the spread of nuclear weapons is dangerous. "We are strong believers in nuclear nonproliferation," he said.

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Pertinent Links:

1) Slovakian FM to 'Post': We stand with Israel against Iran