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2012-04-01 22:25

Quotes from Seoul nuclear summit



As leaders from 53 countries and four international organizations flocked to Seoul for a security summit last week, talks besides nukes and security took place, mostly on economy, during the meetings. Here are memorable ― and infamous ― quotes.

“Contagion as a whole, I hope, will soon belong to the past now that more discipline has been adhered to by most member states, and now that the firewalls are in the process of being fortified.” - Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, on his way to the summit. (Reuters)

“I don’t think it’s any secret that if you talk to most leaders today, the economic circumstances of the global economy and of their own economies are very much center, very much top of their mind.” - Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper (The Gazette) Harper said Canada will invest $367 million over five years in eliminating the threat of weapons of mass destruction including nuclear weapons and so-called “dirty bombs.”

“This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility.” - U.S. President Barack Obama caught by an open a microphone, talking privately to Russian President Dmitri A. Medvedev, referring to Russian concerns over the American missile defense system.

“There is great potential for developing further our economic ties, ... , partly in trade but also in investments. For instance, energy sector and modern technology.” - Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, talking about bilateral relationship between Norway and Korea, in an interview with Yonhap News Agency

“Nigeria is a country with lots of natural resources. South Korea, on the other hand, is industrialized, ... , We need a lot of investment in pipeline investment, it’s the area for Korean companies.” - Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, in an interview with Yonhap News Agency, discussing Nigeria’s oil industry and opportunities for foreign investors on offshore oil fields and pipelines.

The next Nuclear Security Summit will be held in the Netherlands in 2014.
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