By Xinhua
Tehran : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday highlighted the importance of the UN General Assembly, saying its annual meeting is vital for countries to voice their stance.
Ahmadinejad made the remarks to reporters prior to his departure for New York to attend this year’s session of the UN General Assembly.
The Iranian president told the reporters that the UN session would provide a good opportunity for countries’ senior officials to exchange views on various issues of regional and global concern.
It is also a good opportunity for Iran to express its transparent stance on regional and international developments, he added.
Ahmadinejad, meanwhile, held that the American people are eager to hear different opinions about the world, adding “the Americans have, for some reasons, been deprived of access to accurate information regarding the global developments, and are eager to hear alternative views.”
The Iranian President left here for New York shortly after the press briefing. He was seen off at the Mehrabad International Airport by Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani, head of the supreme leader’s office, and First Vice-President Parviz Davoudi, according to the official IRNA news agency.
His New York journey comes amid high tensions between Washington and Tehran over U.S. accusations that Iran is secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons and helping anti-U.S. militias in Iraq.
During his stay in New York, President Ahmadinejad is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly and hold talks with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, as well as presidents and senior officials of several countries on the sidelines of the UN meeting, IRNA said.
Among some other programs, the president will delivering a speech at the Colombia University and hold discussions with a number of American Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders, IRNA added.