Ahmadinejad:UN must pursue real demands of nations

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that the United Nations (UN) should pursue real demands of nations. The Iranian President made the remarks Tuesday morning upon his arrival in the John F. Kennedy International Airport here. The President is in New York to attend the 66th UN General Assembly. Criticizing UN’s performance, the President said the international body should “look after real demands, identity, dignity and benefits of all nations.” “The UN is under the control of certain states that were winners of the WWII,” said the President. He complained that despite the fact that all countries are members of the 'United Nations', they have to get US visas for attending the UN sessions while America itself is a member to the international body. “There must be a situation that all countries could freely visit the UN and pursue their rights at its meetings,” stressed the President. President Ahmadinejad is to address the UN General Assembly on September 22 (Thursday) to outline Iran’s stances on major international issues. During his five-day stay in New York, he is also to meet Iranians residing in the US as well as the US academicians. He is to have interviews with various American TV channels and media networks. Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi, Energy Minister Majid Namju, Minister of Industries, Mines and Commerce Mehdi Ghazanfari, and the Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare Minister Abdulreza Sheikholeslami are accompanying President Ahmadinejad in the visit. Among others in the president’s delegation are Vice-President Hamid Baqaie, Presidential Advisor Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, Vice-President for International Affairs Ali Saeedlu, and Presidential Advisor and Head of the Women and Family Affairs Department at the Presidential Office Maryam Mojtahedzadeh. The 66th General Assembly of the United Nations is being attended by 92 presidents, 43 heads of states, five vice presidents, 10 foreign ministers and 43 ministers from 193 countries.