FM: EU failure on Iran would be like appeasement to Hitler

JPost - Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman characterized Monday's meeting of 27 EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg as "critical" in sending a message of determination and resolve from the west to Tehran.

The foreign ministers, at their monthly meeting, are scheduled to discuss tightening European sanctions on Iran, something the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany – all members of the body known as the P5+1 that has been negotiating with Iran – have called for.

Liberman, before meeting visiting Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota, said the EU meeting was currently the most important thing on the international agenda.

"It is critical, essential and necessary that the EU pass the right message, which is that the West has enough will and determination to stop the Iranian efforts to destabilize the world," Liberman said.

The failure of the EU to make the "right decision and the lack of willingness to adopt strict sanctions against Iran will bring us to the brink of a new reality similar to that which existed in the 1930s when the west erred, and instead of strangling the Nazi regime at the outset, decided to compromise and appease Hitler," he said.

Liberman said he hoped the West does not repeat the same mistake it made in the 1930s.

Patriota arrived for a visit at a time when Israel and Brazil's bilateral ties were expanding even as disagreements over key diplomatic issues - such as Iran and the peace process with the Palestinians - continue.

Patriota, according to an Israel Radio report, told President Shimon Peres at an earlier meeting his country viewed with concern Israel's threats to attack Iran, saying such an action would destabilize the region.

He also stressed in his meeting with Peres the need for progress in the diplomatic process with the Palestinians.

"We are very aware of the tensions in the region; this is a source of great concern for Brazil. We look at some of the situations around the region with concern," he said. "We would also like to see peace between Israel and the Palestinians."

Two years ago Brazil unleashed a wave of recognition by South American countries of a Palestinian state prior to the Palestinian effort in 2011 to get statehood recognition from the UN Security Council.

Patriota also met Sunday with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, but no details from that meeting were released.