Ahmadinejad questions opposition to his visit to 'Ground Zero'
Washington, Sept. 22 (PTI): Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has rubbished the notion that his visit to New York's World Trade Center site will be an insult to Americans as it is one of the most sensitive places in the country after the 9/11 tragedy in 2001.
"Why should it be insulting?" President Ahmadinejad has said in an interview to CBS News.
"Usually you go to these sites to pay your respects, and also to, perhaps, air your views about the root causes of such incidents. I think when I do that, I will be paying, as I said earlier, my respects to the American nation," the Iranian leader has said.
The meeting with the Iranian leader is a part of the 'Sixty Minutes' programme which will be broadcast tomorrow by the news channel.
Ahmadinejad also brushed aside the contention of the Bush administration that Iran is one of the major exporters of terrorism.
"We obviously are very much against any terrorist action and any killing, and also we are against any plots to sow the seeds of discord among nations," the Iranian leader has said.
Major political party candidates for the US presidential election, especially from the Republican party, have ripped the idea of President Ahmadinejad even asking permission to visit 'Ground Zero'.
President Ahmadinejad's programme in New York next week is expected to be keenly watched for its content and tenor as the Iranian leader visits the United Nations for the annual General Assembly session.
Besides addressing the 192-member Assembly, Ahmadinejad is scheduled to participate in a question-and-answer session with students and faculty members of the prestigious Columbia University.
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