Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad criticized the United Nations Security Council and superpowers while speaking at a high-level meeting of the 67th session of the UN General Assembly, held at the UN headquarters on Monday, the Iranian president's website said.

As world leaders gathered in New York for the start of the annual UN General Assembly Debate, Ahmadinejad called for a total structural overhaul of the UN Security Council in order to facilitate the observance of the rule of law in international relations.

"The discriminatory privilege, the influential and imposed role of the Security Council as well as [the right of] veto and some of its owners are unacceptable and illegitimate and for that reason the Security Council is incapable of administering justice and maintaining a stable order and security in the world," Ahmadinejad said.

He called on all UN member states to reach an immediate agreement on a total overhaul of the UN SC in the interests of justice and the nations of the world.

President Ahmadinejad censured the hegemonic powers for imposing their will on nations and violating the inalienable rights and liberties of the people of the world under the pretext of defending freedom and international security.

He went on to say that all governments must be treated equally and should be committed to international law.

The Iranian president condemned the UN SC for protecting the "nuclear warheads" of Israel, thought to be the only Middle Eastern country to possess nuclear weapons although it refuses to disclose any capability, Radio Liberty reported.

Ahmadinejad's criticism of Israel prompted a walkout of the Israeli delegation from the UN special session on the rule of law.

Ahmadinejad said Israel's threats against Iran should be condemned, but Iran does not believe they should be responded with threats.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is fully ready to defend itself. The situation which allows the Zionist regime to threaten other nations repeatedly should be rectified," he said.

Earlier, Ahmadinejad told journalists Iran was ready to defend itself against any Israeli attack, adding that the Jewish state did not have "roots" in the Middle East and would be "eliminated".

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had warned Ahmadinejad of the dangers of incendiary rhetoric when the two men met in New York on September 23.

The Iranian leader also accused members of the Security Council of using the UN charter to justify remaining silent on an anti-Islam video that has sparked protests throughout the Muslim world.

"Divine prophets and heavenly religions which are the common heritage of mankind should be respected by the law in all societies, so that the conflicts leading to hatred, war and hostility between human beings will be avoided, leading to peace and integration," Ahmadinejad said.

On the Syria crisis, Ahmadinejad said it should be resolved by peaceful means and without outside interference.

A long-time supporter of embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Ahmadinejad condemned violence in Syria in an interview with CNN's Piers Morgan.

"We must all say: enough of this violence, right now," the Islamic Republic's leader said, adding that he is working to set up a group bringing the two sides together.

"We do believe that freedom, the right to choose, the right to vote, respect and justice are the fundamental right of all people. All people must enjoy these rights," Ahmadinejad said.

"No one has the right to restrict a people or a nation, but we believe that as a friend of nations, we must help nations around the world to obtain these rights through peaceful ways, though peaceful actions," he said.

Referring to tabling the Syria issue on the agenda of the 16th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit held in Tehran in August, the Iranian president said: "Clashes in Syria must be stopped as soon as possible, and the two sides should resume the negotiations based on justice of the involved parties in Syria."

Ahmadinejad regarded the proposal on setting up a contact group for the Syria crisis -- put forward at the NAM summit -- as positive.

"It is our attempt to have other states join the proposal of the Egyptian president, and I hope Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi collaborate with this group to play in Syria issue actively and effectively."

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN-Arab League envoy, is willing to cooperate with Iran on establishing a contact group for resolving the Syrian crisis.

Ban Ki-moon called on Iran to support Brahimi in fulfilling his mission in Syria.

Meanwhile, demonstrators protested outside the hotel housing Iranian President Ahmadinejad in New York.

The protesters criticized the Warwick Hotel for agreeing to host the Iranian leader.

"We're here to protest the presence of Ahmadinejad and the Iranian delegation in New York," David Ibsen, the executive director of United Against Nuclear Iran, which organized the protest, said, "and also to protest the decision of the Warwick Hotel to host the delegation."

In past UN sessions, Ahmadinejad's anti-Western comments on the Holocaust have caused international outcry and contributed to the isolation of Iran, which is at odds with the West over its nuclear program.