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Iranian President Refused Permission to Visit World Trade Center
Earlier this month it was reported the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad requested permission to lay a wreath at the World Trade Center when he visits New York to address the United Nations General Assembly. He is expected to arrive on Sunday Spetember 23, 2007.
According to New York Police Department psokesman Paul Browne the request was denied due to continuing construction at a fenced in area, the site of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
The U.S. State Department has also denied a visa be granted to the Iranian UN ambassador in Geneva Switzerland who would also be attending the General Assembly meeting. His visa request has been rejected because, as stated by a UN official, he was involved in the 1979 hostage incident; though exactly what role he played in that crisis is unknown.
Browne says the NYPD would oppose the visit of Ahmadinejad to the immdeiate area of WTC due to security considerations.
Ahmadinejad had applied for permission from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the U.S. Secret Service and the New York Police Department. both the Secret Service and the NYPD provide security foreign dignitaries heads of state.
Only the Port Authority which owns the property could grant permission for Ahmadinejad to enter the site. It was decided ina meeting of the Port Authority with the NYPD that no foreign heads of state would be authorized to go inside the property says Port Authority spokesman Steve Coleman.
Also weighing in on this matter is the United States ambassador to the UN Zalmy Khalilzad who said the U.S. will not support the Iraninas attempt to use the WTC as a photo opportunity. He stated if the Iranian government is serious in its concern about terror they can demonstrate their concernby taking “concrete actions”.
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