Ahmadinejad, Clinton to Speak at UN Nuclear Conference

VOA News
03 May 2010

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says his country's proposals on nuclear disarmament will be "practical" and "fair."

Mr. Ahmadinejad commented as he arrived in New York for a conference on the the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). He also said Iran regards disarmament as an "influential" factor in world security and will pursue it.

The Iranian leader will deliver remarks Monday during the opening session of the month-long conference at U.N. headquarters. He is expected to make the case for his country's nuclear program.

In particular, Mr. Ahmadinejad is expected to present a proposal for changes to the treaty, as well as deride U.S.-led efforts to impose a new round of sanctions on his country for its uranium enrichment.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton suggested Sunday that the Iranian leader would try to deflect attention from what she said is his country's failure to comply with the non-proliferation treaty.

She is also scheduled to address the conference Monday.

The 189 signatories to the NPT gather every five years to discuss compliance and strengthening the treaty, which aims to halt the spread of nuclear weapons.

The conference ends May 28.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.