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BERLIN, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Patience of the
international community over talks on Iran's nuclear program is not endless,
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said here on Thursday.
Speaking to the German parliament on government policy
before the two-day European Union summit on Dec. 15-16, Steinmeier urged Iran
not to delay the dispute over its nuclear research.
"I say again: The government in Tehran must
understand that thepatience of the international community is not endless,"
Steinmeier said.
European Union leaders will address Iranian President
Mahmud Ahmadinejad's denunciation of the Holocaust as a "myth," he said, warning
that patience is running out with Tehran.
The German government has condemned the remarks by
Ahmadinejad and called on the United Nations as well as the EU to follow suit.
Berlin says the comments will also weigh on talks
over Tehran'sdisputed nuclear program.
The anti-Jewish comments made a solution to the
nuclear issue more difficult, he said, adding that Ahmadinejad's remarks were
unacceptable.
The remarks showed "with how much irresponsibility
and cynicismthe Iranian government currently regards the situation of Israel and
the Near East," he said.
Germany, France and Britain have been negotiating
with Iran in an attempt to persuade it to give up its nuclear program. Later
this month, Iran is due to resume negotiations on the issue with envoys from the
three countries.
Ahmadinejad's comments about Jews and Israel have
grabbed headlines across the world over the past few months.
He first provoked an international outcry in October
when he called for Israel to be "wiped off the map." He then expressed doubt
about the Nazi destruction of European Jews during World WarII and went further
on Wednesday by saying that the Holocaust is a"myth" that Europeans have used to
create a Jewish state in the heart of the Islamic world. Enditem
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