A review of the year in quotes
"I believe it's going to happen, that there's going to be a signed peace treaty by the time I leave office."
President Bush during his first visit to the Middle East in January.
"I have spent my life studying foreign policy and I have never seen the world in such a mess."
Madeleine Albright, former US secretary of state.
"Within me, there is a charitable disposition towards others."
President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe denies he is a tyrant.
"A country that used to be a bread basket . . . has now become a basket case, itself needing help."
Archbishop Desmond Tutu saying African nations should remove Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe by force if necessary.
" I can see Russia from my house!"
Sarah Palin giving evidence of her foreign policy experience.
"We will not allow Iraq to become a platform for harming the security of Iran and neighbours."
Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki in Tehran trying to reassure Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that Iran would not be attacked if Iraq concluded a status of forces agreement with the US.
"The Irish will have to vote again."
A quote attributed to French president Nicolas Sarkozy during a private meeting with parliamentary deputies. Later in Dublin he said: "I never said that Ireland had to organise a new referendum. I said that at some stage or another the Irish had to be given the opportunity to give their opinion."
"Such hypocrisy I cannot accept . . . If someone doesn't please me, I will say so to his face - and not behind his back."
Czech president Vaclav Klaus in reply to Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin's accusation that Klaus's Dublin press conference with Libertas founder Declan Ganley was an "inappropriate intervention" during a State visit.
"Tibet is going through a death sentence; its spirit is being killed."
The Dalai Lama.
"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible . . . tonight is your answer."
Barack Obama in his victory speech at Grant Park, Chicago, as president-elect of the United States.