Iran asks UN to facilitate release of 3 diplomats, 1 IRNA reporter, kidnapped by Israel in 1982 and 5 diplomats held by the United States since 2006 in Ebril, Iraq

GMT: 5/7/2009 8:16:01 AM

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Iran calls for UN help in releasing kidnapped diplomats

United Nations, New York, May 7, IRNA – The Islamic Republic of Iran called on the United Nations on Wednesday to take serious steps and exert pressure on the Zionist regime to release four Iranian diplomats kidnapped in Lebanon in 1982.

The demand was made during a meeting by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Mohammad-Ali Hosseini with the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Lynn Pascoe in New York.

Iran’s then charge d’affaires to Beirut Mohsen Moussavi, diplomat Taqi Rastegar Moqaddam, military attachche Ahmad Motevasselian and IRNA’s photojournalist were abducted at the end of their mission in Lebanon by Israel’s proxy forces led by Samir Geagea in July 1982.

They were escorted by the Lebanese police on their way back home from a mission in northern Lebanon.

There are documents that the Iranian diplomats are held captive in the Zionist regime’s prisons.

Hosseini voiced Tehran’s readiness to cooperate with the UN on dealing with major regional developments as the country enjoyed a constructive status in the region.

Hosseini further urged the UN authorities to comply with the international body’s Charter and remain impartial in their positions on different issues.

The diplomat also called on the UN to put further pressure on the US for the release of five Iranian diplomats who are kept in the US jails in the Iraqi city of Erbil.

A group of five Iranian diplomats were kidnapped in northern Iraqi city of Erbil in January, 2006, when US forces broke into Iran’s consulate after disarming its guards and using force to break into the building.

Meanwhile, Pascoe praised Tehran’s leading role in the region.

He said there were many potential grounds to boost cooperation between Iran and the UN.

Hosseini promised the UN would pursue Iran’s demand to help free Iranian diplomats kept in Lebanon and Iraq.

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End News / IRNA / News Code 473968

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