1st int’l disarmament confab kicks off in Tehran

Tehran, April 17, IRNA – The 1st International Conference on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation started here Saturday morning with the participation of officials from about 60 countries.

The two-day conference is being held at the IRIB’s International Conference Hall in northern Tehran.

Some 14 foreign ministers, 10 deputy ministers and a group of representatives from international and regional organizations are present in the gathering.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is the first speaker of the inaugural ceremony.

He is to address the opening session soon.

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki is also to address the audience which is consisted of some disarmament experts from other countries.

An exhibition is to be held on the sidelines of the conference putting on display images of the victims of the chemical weapons which had been used against Iranians by Iraq during the eight-year-imposed war against the country as well as the victims of the chemical weapons from other countries.

At the end of the conference, the participating delegations will visit the ancient city of Isfahan in central Iran./end