Germany defends decision to give Iranian VP visa
BERLIN: The German government on Friday defended its decision to issue a visa to an Iranian vice-president, Mohammed Aliabadi, to allow him to attend the World Cup. Government spokesman Thomas Steg said it was important “to distinguish” between the rhetoric of hardline Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the position of the vice-president, who also holds official sports functions. He said Berlin condemned Ahmadinejad’s outbursts against Israel “in the strongest terms” but Aliabadi “has not personally made similar remarks.” “There is no legal impediment to this visit,” he said, adding that the government was operating on the principle that Aliabadi would attend the World Cup.
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