Iran Engaged in Active Diplomacy as UN Summit Looms
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held several diplomatic meetings with his foreign counterparts and UN officials in New York, where world leaders are gathering in to attend the 69th annual session of the United Nations General Assembly.
On Sunday, the top Iranian diplomat had a tight schedule. He held separate meetings with several officials, who are expected to attend the 193-nation UN General Assembly in New York this week.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced that more than 140 heads of state or government will attend the assembly’s annual "general debate", which begins on Wednesday and ends September 30.
Among the officials that met with Foreign Minister Zarif on Sunday was Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Relations Jose Antonio Meade Kuribrena.
In the meeting, Zarif once again raised the alarm over the threats posed by the terrorist groups, stressing the need for vigilance by certain countries to eradicate terrorism.
Another meetings saw Zarif and his Cypriot counterpart Ioannis Kasoulidis discussing the mutual interests of Tehran and Nicosia and the common threats they might face with.
In that meeting, Zarif blamed the spread of terrorism on “short-sighted policies” pursued by certain countries.
The Iranian foreign minister also held a series of talks with the officials working at the humanitarian organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Peter Maurer and Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees Pierre Krahenbuhl.
Zarif reassured the both officials that Iran is prepared to coordinate efforts with the international bodies to help relieve the pains of people in war-torn countries, as in Syria, Iraq and Palestine.
On September 19, the New York Times acknowledged in a report that “Iranians are clearly doing far better in public diplomacy in New York than are the United States or its allies.”
It also praised Foreign Minister Zarif as diplomat with “media savvy” that has given interviews to several media outlets and attended several gatherings during his stay in New York.
