Iran’s appointed UN envoy competent for post : Afkham

/irans-appointed-un-envoy-fit-for-post

  • Le futur (?) ambassadeur iranien à l’ONU aurait fait partie des étudiants preneurs d’otages de l’ambassade des États-Unis à Téhéran en 1979

    PressTV - Iran’s appointed UN envoy competent for post : Afkham
    http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/04/08/357692/irans-appointed-un-envoy-fit-for-post

    Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham says the country’s appointee for the post of ambassador to the United Nations, Hamid Abutalebi, is qualified for the position.

    In our viewpoint, the ambassador who has been introduced is qualified for the position and has had important diplomatic posts in European countries and Australia and has had a good, effective and positive performance during his past [diplomatic] missions,” Afkham told reporters at her weekly press conference on Tuesday.

    She made the remarks in response to a question about whether Iran would propose another person instead of Abutalebi given that the US has voiced concerns about the appointment.

    Aboutalebi’s appointment by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has been criticized by the Barack Obama administration, which has described the nomination as “extremely troubling.

    As host nation of the United Nations’ headquarters, the US should admit the chosen representatives of the UN’s members; however, under limited circumstances, it can refuse to grant visas to such representatives.

    Afkham said Iran has done the necessary correspondence for Aboutalebi’s visa application through the appropriate channels, and will make further decisions based on formal and diplomatic response regarding the issue.

    On Monday, the US Senate passed a measure by a voice vote that would bar Aboutalebi from entering the United States for his involvement in the takeover of the US embassy in Tehran during post-revolution incidents in 1979. However, the Senate “vote is symbolic because the executive branch issues visas to the U.S.,” according to Bloomberg.

    • Ambassadeur iranien à l’ONU : c’est non pour les É.-U. !
      U.S. Won’t Let Iran Envoy Into The Country | TIME.com
      http://time.com/59140/congress-iran-us-un-ambassador-hamid-aboutalebi

      Under a 1947 treaty establishing the headquarters of the UN in New York, the U.S. is generally required to expeditiously approve visa requests for UN diplomats. But on Tuesday, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said visas can still be denied on “security, terrorism, and foreign policy” grounds.

      However, neither Psaki nor Carney would expand on the reasons for denying Aboutalebi’s visa.

      We’ve been very clear with the Iranians that this nomination is not viable,” Psaki said Friday. “So there has been no secret of that, but I think they understand what the reasons are.

      (…)
      We, as a country, can send an unequivocal message to rogue nations like Iran that the United States will not tolerate this kind of provocative and hostile behavior,” Senator Ted Cruz (R-Tex) said in a statement.

    • Iran rejects naming new UN envoy after US refusal - Houston Chronicle
      http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Iran-says-has-no-plans-to-substitute-UN-envoy-pick-5397198.php#photo-6157156

      Iran rejected naming a new diplomat Saturday to represent it at the United Nations, with one lawmaker urging the Islamic Republic to stand up to “bullying” from the U.S., which has rejected granting its pick a visa.
      (…)
      Aboutalebi is alleged to have participated in a Muslim student group that held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days during the embassy takeover. He has insisted his involvement in the group Muslim Students Following the Imam’s Line was limited to translation and negotiation. Iran says he is one of the country’s best diplomats, and that he previously received a U.S. visa. He already served at Iranian diplomatic missions in Australia, Belgium and Italy.