UANI Calls on The New York Helmsley Hotel to Refuse to Host President Ahmadinejad

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2009
Contact: Kimmie Lipscomb, [email protected]
Phone: (212) 554-3296

UANI Calls on The New York Helmsley Hotel to Refuse to Host President Ahmadinejad

New York, NY - United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) today called on The New York Helmsley Hotel (the "Helmsley") to refuse to host President Ahmadinejad and offered the Helmsley an opportunity to clarify its role as the host of a banquet for the Iranian delegation and as host for a speech by President Ahmadinejad on September 24, 2009 during his stay in New York for the UN General Assembly (UNGA). 
 
In a letter to Mark Briskin, General Manager of the Helmsley, UANI President, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace wrote "UANI seeks to clarify your role as host to President Ahmadinejad.  As we expressed to you in July, UANI denounces any decision by a hotel to host President Ahmadinejad in New York and calls upon all New York area hotels to join the international community in isolating Iran and condemning its illicit nuclear program."
 
"By doing business with the Iranian government the Helmsley is accepting blood money from a regime that brutally suppresses its own people and that is a danger to global security.  Moreover, by providing a forum for President Ahmadinejad's speech, the Helmsley is serving as a bullhorn for the propaganda of the illegitimate leader of a brutal theocratic dictatorship."
 
To the extent that the Helmsley persists in its plans to host President Ahmadinejad, UANI will call on members of the public to boycott Helmsley properties. 
 
UANI, last week, called on the InterContinental The Barclay not to host President Ahmadinejad during his stay in New York for the UNGA.  UANI, in July, called on all New York City hotels to refuse to host President Ahmadinejad during his visit to New York. 
 
Click here to send a letter to The New York Helmsley Hotel