Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird tells UN chief to shun Iran summit

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Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird speaks to the press after finishing his tour at Zaatari refugee camp in Mafraq, Jordan, Aug. 11, 2012. Baird is telling the United Nations secretary general to stay away from a summit of non-aligned nations in Iran this week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP - Mohammad Hannon

OTTAWA – Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is telling the United Nations secretary general to stay away from a summit of non-aligned nations in Iran this week.

Baird says Tehran will use Ban ki-Moon’s presence at the meeting of more than 100 countries for its own propaganda purposes.

The minister says Iran has pledged to destroy Israel and has an abysmal human rights record.

Baird sent Ban a letter last week outlining his concerns, which mirror those of Israel.

The West believes Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons program, but Tehran denies this.

There has been growing speculation lately about a possible pre-emptive Israeli military strike against Iran’s nuclear program.

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