President Ahmadinejad: Iran's NAM Presidency Doubles Responsibilities

Tehran, Sept 22, IRNA – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here on Saturday that Iran's rotating presidency over the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) has doubled the country's responsibilities for attending the United Nations General Assembly session. President Ahmadinejad made the remarks at Mehrabad International airport prior to his departure to New York where he is to attend and address the 67th regular session of the UN General Assembly. "During the 16th NAM meeting in Tehran, the member states agreed to hold several meetings on restructuring the United Nation and resolving regional crises, Syria in particular, "he said. The President added that talks on UN restructuring and formation of a contact group for settling regional disputes will be held with other countries during the UN General Assembly session. He reiterated that he would brief the participants on the Islamic Republic's stands during his address to the 67th UN General Assembly session. Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, Minister of Health Marziyeh Vahid Dastjerdi, Head of Presidential Office Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, senior Advisor to President Mojtaba Samareh Hashemi and a number of other cabinet members are accompanying Ahmadinejad to New York. This is President's eighth trip to New York to participate in the UN General Assembly session since first becoming president in 2005. During his stay, the President is to review major international issues with his counterparts from various world countries, particularly those from the NAM member states. President Ahmadinejad is also to hold talks with anti-war groups and peace activists, religious leaders, Iranian nationals in the US and the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the sidelines of the event./end