- I deplore the statements recently made by the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in which he maintains that the Holocaust is a myth and that the State of Israel should be moved to Europe, commented Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. - These statements are unacceptable and show a shocking lack of respect for the Israeli people and for the international political debate.

The Iranian president declared in October that Israel should be wiped off the map. His statement was met with condemnation all over the world, also from the Palestinians.

- I would like to emphasise once again that statements such as these will only make Iran more isolated in the international community, added Mr Støre.