|
Iran Focus
 London,
Oct. 29 – United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan is to visit Iran
within the next few weeks where he is expected to meet top officials amid
threats by the Iranian President that “Israel must be wiped off the
map”.
A statement attributable to Annan’s spokesman on
the remarks of the Iranian President said that following Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s speech,
the UN chief intended to discuss the Middle East
peace process.
“The Secretary General has read with dismay the remarks about Israel
attributed to H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of
Iran”, the spokesman said, adding, “He recalls in particular that, under
the United Nations Charter, all members have undertaken to refrain from the
threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political
independence of any state”.
Annan had originally planned to travel to Iran to
discuss “other issues”.
“He now intends to place the Middle East peace process, and the right of
all states in the area to live in peace within secure and recognised boundaries free from threats or acts of
force, at the top of his agenda for that visit”, his spokesman said.
It is believed that Annan’s visit will reflect
growing concerns that Iran
is fast becoming the trouble-spot on the international scene.
On Friday, the UN Security Council condemned the Iranian president’s threats
against the state of Israel.
There is also growing pressure to refer Tehran’s nuclear dossier to the Security
Council for possible economic sanctions after the Islamic Republic refused
to heed to a resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN’s
nuclear watchdog, to suspend its suspected nuclear weapons activities.
|