Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has left the Iranian capital of Tehran for New York to attend the 66th annual session of the United Nations General Assembly

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has left the Iranian capital of Tehran for New York to attend the 66th annual session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The Iranian president, heading a high-ranking delegation, was officially seen off by Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior foreign policy adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and also by First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi on Monday, IRNA reported.

Speaking to reporters before leaving, Ahmadinejad stressed the importance of “active and influential” presence in the UN General Assembly since the Iranian nation has an idea for managing the world and carries a message for humanity.

He said the General Assembly is the main decision-making source in the world, adding, “The idea for the establishment of the United Nations is a historical achievement to serve as a center for all nations to cooperate and participate in global management in a fair atmosphere.”

However, this idea has not been fulfilled yet, the Iranian president pointed out.

He stated that efforts to make reforms in global management, exchanging views with heads of delegations attending the UN session and meetings with Iranians residing in the US are among the top priorities of his trip.

The Iranian president added that he would meet US university students and academics and take part in press conferences.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, Energy Minister Majid Namjou, Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Mahdi Ghazanfari, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Abdolreza Sheikholeslami, Vice President Hamid Baqaei, Presidential Advisor and Head of the Presidential Office Esfandiyar Rahim Mashaei, Vice President for International Affairs Ali Saeedlou and a presidential advisor Maryam Mojtahedzadeh are among officials accompanying the president on his trip.

President Ahmadinejad will also present participants in the UN meeting with a five-volume book series which include documents on the occupation of Iran during the Second World War.

The Iranian chief executive is setting off for New York for the 7th time since he took office in 2005.

Following his trip to the US, Ahmadinejad will pay a three-leg visit to Venezuela, Sudan and Mauritania to hold talks with his counterparts.