IRNA - Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi criticized the positions of Western states, especially the US, regarding the issue of human rights in other countries.


Araqchi condemned Western states for imposing their culture on other countries.

He made the remarks in a meeting in New York on Friday with deputy foreign minister of Venezuela whose country assumes the rotating presidency of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 72).

Araqchi urged the NAM members to pay due attention to the issue of human rights as well as cultural diversity of all nations.

He also exchanged views with his Venezuelan counterpart over NAM programs namely its high-profile meeting on human rights and cultural diversity slated to be held in New York by the end of 2017.

Iran was the previous president of NAM. In September 2016, Iran officially handed over the three-year rotating presidency of NAM to Venezuela at the 17th NAM Summit held in Venezuela's Margarita Island.
Araqchi arrived in New York on Sep 16 to attend the UNGA 72.