Posted on 09/07/2005 6:06:21 PM PDT by nuconvert
Majlis speaker cancels US visit over visa delay Tehran,
Sept 7, IRNA
Iran-Speaker-Visit Cancellation
Speaker of the Iranian Majlis (Parliament) Gholam-Ali Hadad-Adel called off his visit to New York, US, to attend a United Nations conference due to the delay of his visa delivery, it was reported here Tuesday evening.
The Majlis speaker was scheduled to participate in the Second World Conference of Speakers of Parliament at the United Nations' New York headquarters from September 7-9.
However, Hadad-Adel has decided not to go to the US after he was informed Tuesday afternoon by the Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi who was at Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport, of the delay of his visa delivery.
Speaking to reporters after Hadad-Adel's visit was called off, Asefi said, "The speaker has decided, with dignity, not to go to the US." According to the spokesman the US authorities were informed of the speaker's planned visit two months earlier.
"Last week, after receiving contradictory information on the failure to deliver a visa, Tehran protested against US behavior on misusing the United Nations," Asefi said.
He added that the Swiss ambassador in Tehran was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Sunday as the representative of the US interests in Tehran. He assured that he would follow up the case.
"Finally, he informed Iranian officials on Monday that the visa would be delivered Tuesday," Asefi added.
According to Asefi, the Swiss ambassador officially informed Iranian authorities on Monday that the speaker's visa would be delivered on Tuesday.
However, when the Iranian officials went to the embassy to obtain the visa, said the spokesman, "They were told that it would finally be delivered on Wednesday.
"Tehran believes the Americans' attitude has been insulting and uncivilized," Asefi said.
Criticizing the US officials' behavior, the spokesman described it as "ugly" and "unacceptable".
He added that washington cannot take hostage international organizations including those whose headquarters are situated on its soil.
Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, and three MPs: Mousa Qorbani, Mohsen Yahyavi and Mehrangiz Morovvati, were among members of the Iranian delegation to the UN conference.
Two of the MPs, Yahyavi and Morovvati, left Tehran for New York on Tuesday as they had been delivered their visas.
Prior to her departure, Morovvati said it would be better if the rest of the members of the delegation would finally receive their visas. However, if those who have received their visas would attend the UN conference to "defend Iran's right", it would be fine.
More than 150 speakers of parliaments attend the conference organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union at the UN headquarters.
Well that's one... a good start anyway.
Let'em use a cell phone conference call.
"Tehran believes the Americans' attitude has been insulting and uncivilized," Asefi said.
Criticizing the US officials' behavior, the spokesman described it as "ugly" and "unacceptable".
He added that washington cannot take hostage international organizations including those whose headquarters are situated on its soil.
All right Asefi, LET'S talk hostages!
The memory of a peaceful embassy under siege,
the embassy personnel taken hostage even under
diplomatic immunity, their capture for 444 days
is still fresh in my mind...
Iran is not a horrid country nor are the majority of it's people and it's not that little.
It's the gov't that's horrid.
And as far as taking international organizations hostage,
we'd rather you swam back to your god forsaken hell hole with a UN diplomat under each arm, that's how much we like
them.
My relatives are Persian and I think that the statement that you made bares as much looking at as the one that I made. I am sorry for the people that do not agree with their government but since it is just the "government" why are so many hell bent and determined to kill or maim any American that gets within an IED range. Why do they allow this? I would like to think that this is not true but it is no secret that they aid terrorist groups and are guilty of much that is vile, evil, and loathsome.
"why are so many hell bent and determined to kill or maim any American that gets within an IED range"
You'll have to elborate. I don't personally know any Iranians "hell bent and determined to kill or maim any American". Do your relatives feel this way?
The majority of Iranians are pro-American. In fact, Persians are the most Pro-American people in the middle east. (and I dare say in most of the world).
Are there pro-regime Iranians? Of course. But they are NOT the majority.
There have been numerous articles posted here on FR on this subject. Use the search engine and keyword Iran.
You might also want to visit DoctorZin's daily Iranian Alert Thread. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1479056/posts
Ummm is it not true that some of the "insurgents" that are lending a hand to their fellow terrorists in Iraq are Iranian? Are they not currently supporting known terrorist? Have they no been repeatedly asked to keep their citizens and weapons form crossing the border into a theater of war that we are currently involved in? Oh wait maybe I have been sniffing glue again and just imagined it all? It is no secret been all over blogs. Now I am not saying all of the "insurgents" are Iranian but it can not be denied that they are in no way maintaining any kind of constructive relationship with the US. Yes, I will read the old thread but I will say that until they do not participate in this type of behavior the US has no reason to molly coddle them. The story needs to be substantiated on this end as well because this is a typical kind of "victim" howl that is begging for people to slam the mean US. Perhaps I have mistaken those people and they are just wanting to show us all that kind and peaceful religion?
My relatives can not stand the government and do not wish to see sanctions lifted. What they would like to see happen is that America would fund the groups that wish to not live under the present regime. When they go to Iran they are hopeful that the younger ones will change the course of Iran. Nu, I question if we should do that although I feel we have done so already. It seem s to be that this would not be a good thing right now,
Sorry post 11 was for you.
Yup, there are some
As for the rest of your reply, I will repeat. It's the regime that is horrid. And yes, there are some pro-regime Iranians. They are not representative of the general population. We have some people in this country who support Cindy Sheehan. They, too, are Not representative of the majority of Americans.
"What they would like to see happen is that America would fund the groups that wish to not live under the present regime"
I like your relatives' thinking. And the sooner we can help the people get rid of the regime, the better.
So far they (the Cindy Sheehans) have not killed anyone --- not that I don't think they would not try if they could get away with it. This is a very interesting problem. The Iranians fought very hard for a regime change and now they are being held hostage by the regime they wanted and playing a very dangerous game of brinkmanship with the US that will only harden the way that they are viewed in the US. I do not see how we can trust them if they refuse to leave the Iraq situation alone. Sometimes I want to just tell Russia and China that they now have to take care of the baby they have created.
"The Iranians fought very hard for a regime change and now they are being held hostage by the regime they wanted "
Maybe you should speak with your Persian relatives about the revolution. (if they are old enough to remember) Again, the majority of people did not fight for regime change. It was a vocal, radical, minority.
"I do not see how we can trust them if they refuse to leave the Iraq situation alone"
The regime can never be trusted.
I'm not saying anything too different from what President Bush has said. He's already allocated funds for aiding the Iranian democratic movement.
I know Nu I just would wish that we could learn from the last time that we funded some of these groups. I think it is pretty fool hardy. If it all comes crashing down we are in for a world of pain. I will think on this some more tonight and talk to you some more. I have enjoyed the discussion.:)
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