nuclear-news

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to visit Iran

UN chief to visit Iran in defiance of US, Israel China Daily,  2012-08-23
* Ban to attend non-aligned summit in Iran – UN
* U.S., Israel had urged Ban to boycott Tehran summit
* UN chief to raise concerns about Iran nuclear work, Syria
* Ban hopes to meet with Iran’s supreme leader, president
UNITED NATIONS – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will attend a summit
meeting of leaders of non-aligned developing nations in Iran next
week, defying calls from the United States and Israel to boycott the
event, a UN spokesman said on Wednesday.
UN spokesman Martin Nesirky told reporters that Ban will be in Tehran
August 29-31 for a meeting of some 120 non-aligned nations, and for
bilateral talks with senior Iranian officials.
“With respect to the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Secretary-General
will use the opportunity to convey the clear concerns and expectations
of the international community,” he said. “These include Iran’s
nuclear program, terrorism, human rights and the crisis in Syria.”
Ban is “fully aware of the sensitivities” linked to his visit, but he
is also aware of his responsibilities as head of the United Nations,
Nesirky said.
He noted that non-aligned nations comprise two-thirds of all UN member states.
One of Ban’s responsibilities is “to pursue diplomatic engagement with
all … (UN) member states in the interest of peacefully addressing
vital matters of peace and security,” Nesirky said.
He added that Ban hoped to have “meaningful and fruitful discussions”
with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad and other top members of the Iranian government…..
Last week Ban sharply criticized Khamenei and Ahmadinejad, describing
their latest verbal attacks on Israel as “offensive and
inflammatory.”….
http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2012-08/23/content_15699382.htm

August 23, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Iran, politics international