Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi speaks during the Conference on Disarmament at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, on, Feb. 28, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Keystone, Jean-Christophe Bott
May 14, 2013 - 9:38 AM
OTTAWA - Canada is refusing to participate in the United Nations Conference on Disarmament as long as it's being chaired by Iran.
A spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird says giving Iran the position, even if it is only temporary, makes a mockery of disarmament issues.
Rick Roth says Iran is working directly against global disarmament goals in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and elsewhere.
Iran will preside over the 65-nation Conference on Disarmament from May 27 until June 23.
Based in Geneva, it's considered the world's most important disarmament negotiating forum.
The United States is also refusing to send its ambassador to the forum, arguing that countries under UN sanctions shouldn't be allowed to hold such positions.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013