(13 Sep 2006) 1. French Interior Minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, and his wife, Cecilia Sarkozy shaking hands with US Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff 2. Cameras 3. Chertoff and Sarkozy shaking hands 4. Wide of Sarkozy speaking to French-American Foundation 5. Cutaway audience 6. SOUNDBITE: (French) Nicolas Sarkozy, French Interior Minister: "Of course, the major strategic crisis of our time is the question of Iranian nuclear power. France's position is clear and without ambiguity. Under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, Iran does not have the right to try and acquire a nuclear weapon. Although the Iranians do have the sovereign right to acquire a civilian nuclear capability, everyone knows that there are all too many suspicions about Tehran's real intentions. We cannot take the risk." 7. Audience listening 8. SOUNDBITE: (French) Nicolas Sarkozy, French Interior Minister: "Through its support for Hezbollah and through its president's unacceptable remarks on the Holocaust and the existence of Israel, the Iranian regime has made itself an outlaw nation. The prospect of such a regime armed with weapons as destructive as nuclear missiles is terrifying." 9. Wide of speech 10. SOUNDBITE: (French) Nicolas Sarkozy, French Interior Minister: "History has shown us the consequences of complacency in the face of aggression and fundamentalism. Resolving this question will demand the utmost firmness and unity. Diplomacy must be our main weapon, but we must leave all options open." 11. Audience listening 12. SOUNDBITE: (French) Nicolas Sarkozy, French Interior Minister: "It is in the US interest for this political Europe to be governable and coherent. It must meet the daily needs of its citizens. That is why I am vigorously opposed to the idea of an endlessly expanded Europe, a Europe without borders and thus without an identity." 13. Audience listening 14. SOUNDBITE: (French) Nicolas Sarkozy, French Interior Minister: "My attachment and dedication to our relationship with America is well known and has earned me substantial criticism in France. But I'm not a coward. I'm proud of this friendship and I proclaim it gladly. Let's not be afraid to say that relations between France and the US are often difficult. We mustn't deny it. Yet our disagreements seem secondary always to the things we share." 15. Cameras 16. Wide of speech STORYLINE: French Interior Minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, declared on Tuesday, that Iran had "made itself into an outlaw nation" and must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. "Iran does not have the right to try and acquire a nuclear weapon," said Sarkozy said as he addressed a gathering sponsored by the French-American Foundation in Washington DC. A prospective candidate in France's presidential election next year, Sarkozy described the prospect of Iran possessing nuclear weapons as "terrifying". He said the problem must be dealt with through diplomacy, but sounding much like US President George W. Bush, he declared that "we must leave all options open." Sarkozy followed his speech with a lunch alongside US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. Later he was to meet US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley and members of Congress. The session with Hadley at the White House may result in a drop-by get-acquainted visit with US President George W. Bush, officials said. Sarkozy went on to say he opposed expanding the European Union - explaining that the idea of incorporating Turkey and its 65 (m) million Muslims - should be put on hold. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/70c01730dd6c94638f00e97710f8aeef

• published: 24 Jul 2015
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