It is difficult for anyone to tell you what is going to happen. [Middle East] is an area where everything is on the brink of explosion.

We don't discuss this issue [ chemical weapons ] in public because we never said that we have it, and we never said that we don't have it. It's a Syrian issue ; it's a military issue we never discuss in public with anyone.

You cannot have democracy without the institutions. You cannot have a democracy that is built on the moods of self-interested people.

Al-Qaeda has one ideology and they go back to the same leadership in Afghanistan or in Syria or in Iraq. That's the question. You have tens of thousands of foreigners, that's definitely correct. We are fighting them on the ground and we know this.

Your policy should be a mixture between your interests and how you reach your ends, but based on values. It cannot be only the end justifies the means, because for the criminals, ends justify the means, for thieves, for every illegal and immoral action, the end justifies the means.

They want to criticize you, let them criticize and do not worry. Just be transparent with your people and tell them this is the reality.

It is difficult for anyone to tell you what is going to happen. [Middle East] is an area where everything is on the brink of explosion.