(Communicated by the Foreign Minister's Bureau)
Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni met this morning (2 June) with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is currently visiting Israel following his visit to Lebanon. The ministers discussed political developments in Lebanon. FM Livni emphasized the urgent need to implement the UN Security Council resolution regarding the release of the kidnapped Israeli soldiers, the disarmament of Hizbullah and the prevention of arms smuggling across the Syrian-Lebanese border.
On the issue of Iran, Foreign Minister Livni said, "The desire of elements within the international community to open a dialogue with Iran cannot come at the expense of the unequivocal demand to halt the enrichment of uranium by Iran as a precondition for any dialogue."