Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Friday voiced his
determination to address a UN Security Council meeting to defend
his country's disputed nuclear program.
"In case the US administration issues my entry visa, I will
definitely attend the UN Security Council meeting to defend Iran's
nuclear rights," he told the Iranian Fars News Agency after a visit
to Iran's central province of Yazd.
"I do not view any probable consensus among the member states of
the group 5+1 as a deterrent to this trip and I do stress the need
for my presence at the UN Security Council meeting," Ahmadinejad
said.
The "5+1" refers to the five permanent UN Security Council
members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the US -- plus
Germany, which on Thursday reached agreement on a draft council
resolution imposing tougher sanctions against Tehran on its
unyielding nuclear ambitions.
Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo of South Africa, president of the UN
Security Council for March, said Thursday the council has received
a letter from Iranian Ambassador Javad Zarif that Ahmadinejad
"wishes to attend and address the Security Council meeting in which
actions might be taken about a draft resolution about Iran's
peaceful nuclear program."
US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Friday that
Washington has approved visa request of Ahmadinejad before and will
do so again, consistent with its obligations as host country for
the United Nations.
"We are going to do everything that we can in accordance with
our (UN) host country responsibilities to expedite the issuing of
any such visas," McCormack said.
The Iranian leader is expected to address the UN Security
Council when it votes on a new draft resolution against Iran next
week.
The US granted the Iranian leader a visa last year so that he
could attend the UN General Assembly in New York last
September.
The US has accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons
under civilian cover, a charge always denied by Tehran.
(Xinhua News Agency March 17, 2007)
