If you’re in New York next week, take mass transit—security will be tight as over 100 world leaders arrive for the opening session of the General Assembly at the United Nations. One leader already drawing controversy is likely to stir even more while he’s there: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who will address the session on Tuesday.
Denied at Ground Zero
Ahmadinejad (pronounced ama-deen-eh-jad) is making headlines ahead of his visit thanks to a request to visit Ground Zero and “lay a wreath.” The New York Port Authority and Secret Service said no—no dignitaries will be allowed down in the construction site during the meeting. Not even family members of September 11 victims were allowed in the pit on the sixth anniversary this year.
Ahmadinejad says he won’t insist on visiting the site, but the request certainly evoked emotions—a spokesperson from the State Department called it “appalling” and Presidential candidate Mit Romney called it “shockingly audacious.”
Why he’s so controversial
Ahmadinejad has been in the hot seat internationally for years for refusing to halt Iran’s nuclear program, which other countries say is a weapons proliferation effort. Iran insists it’s merely an effort to provide electrical power to its people.
Other reasons: The U.S. government suspects he’s supplying Shia militants in Iraq with weapons and supporting the terrorist group Hezbollah in Lebanon. He’s also called for Israel to be “wiped off the map.”
What is the General Assembly anyway?
It’s a policy making arm of the United Nations, established in 1945 and comprised of all 192 member nations. The group meets each year at this time at UN headquarters in New York to open the new session and discuss international issues—the environment, poverty and terrorism are hot on the agenda this year.
The big picture
Ahmadinejad is expected to make his case for Iran’s nuclear program before the group on Monday. You may recall at last year’s meeting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez made headlines when he called President Bush “the devil,” so anything is possible. (See previous WeeklyDIVA.) He’s not likely to get a sympathetic ear with many. Just this week France warned the world of war if the program isn’t stopped but President Bush said he hopes it can be done peacefully.
