WAC Blasts US For Preventing Ambassador Khazaee's Address

New York, Feb 2, IRNA – President of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia Craig Snyder has strongly criticized the US State Department for not permitting Iranˈs envoy to the United Nations Mohammad Khazaee to attend a historic event in Philadelphia. Khazaee, Iranˈs Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, was invited to address a meeting of the World Affairs Council (WAC) of Philadelphia on February 5. Reports appeared in Philadelphia media said more than 200 people had signed up to hear Ambassador Khazaeeˈs speech at Philadelphiaˈs WAC. The event, scheduled for February 5th had been billed as rare: Mohammad Khazaee, the most senior Iranian representative in the United States, generally does not speak outside the UN, said a report appeared Saturday on the Philly.com. Noting that Khazaeeˈs appearance was abruptly canceled last Thursday, the report added Craig Synder, president and CEO of WAC of Philadelphia, has put the blame for the cancellation on the US State Department. ˈThis is a real missed opportunity,ˈ said Snyder adding, ˈand I see it as very unfortunate that this could have been the result of some sort of deliberate action on the State Departmentˈs end.ˈ The cancellation took place just days after President Obama preached diplomacy with Iran during his State of the Union address. The WAC of Philadelphia said it informed the State Department in early December that Khazaee had accepted an invitation to speak on Feb 5. By Jan 8, the council and the Iranians had sent a formal request to the State Department concerning Khazaee - who needs permission to travel beyond a 25-mile radius from New York City, the report added. The State Department, Snyder added, ˈquietly denied permission by failing to respond to the travel request.ˈ Referring to the State Departmentˈs move as a ˈpurposeful decision,ˈ Snyder said, ˈThe alternative to this being a purposeful decision by the State Department is bureaucratic incompetence. I really donˈt think thatˈs what happened, because we were in touch with them via e-mail on multiple occasions.ˈ The State Department declined to comment, issuing a brief statement Friday night that read in part: ˈAs a matter of policy, we do not discuss the details of these restrictions or requests for waivers.ˈ The State Department, Snyder added, flinched and ultimately caved over the prospect of a top Iranian diplomatˈs speaking freely to an American audience. ˈAdministrations of both parties over many years have drawn a distinction between private diplomacy vs public or citizen diplomacy, and theyˈre often afraid of the latter because they donˈt control it,ˈ Snyder said. ˈI think that this administration is not necessarily interested in a rapid expansion of public or citizen contacts between the two countries.ˈ Meanwhile, to the time of sending this report, the US State Department has declined to answer IRNA correspondentˈs request for commenting on the issue by only saying that they are following up the case with the relevant officials./end