UANI Calls on Warwick Hotel and General Manager Drew Schlesinger to Stop Misleading Guests about Ahmadinejad's Stay and the Resulting Security Measures

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 20, 2012 Contact: Nathan Carleton, press@uani.com  Phone: (212) 554-3296         UANI Calls on Warwick Hotel and General Manager Drew Schlesinger to Stop Misleading Guests about Ahmadinejad's Stay and the Resulting Security Measures UANI will be at Warwick Hotel Next Week to Demonstrate Against Warwick and Ahmadinejad [Click here to voice your concerns to the Warwick, or call the Warwick directly at 212-247-2700 to voice your concern.] New York, NY - United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) on Thursday called on the Warwick Hotel and its new General Manager Drew Schlesinger to stop misleading guests about the Warwick's irresponsible plans to host Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his delegation next week, and the security measures that will result. UANI also announced that it will hold demonstrations at the Warwick throughout the weekend and week. UANI has obtained a disingenuous and misleading letter that Mr. Schlesinger sent today regarding special arrangements at the hotel. UANI has learned that the Warwick brought on Mr. Schlesinger this month to manage the Ahmadinejad visit. "Like most New York City hotels and restaurants," Mr. Schlesinger wrote to individuals who have booked rooms at the Warwick next week, "our doors will be open to participating U.S. officials and international delegates. In deference to them, we will be providing additional security at the hotel." What Mr. Schlesinger failed to mention is that the Warwick's "international delegates" are actually Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his massive delegation, and that its "additional security" will include dozens of US Secret Service and NYPD officers who are funded not by the Warwick, but by taxpayers. Said UANI Executive Director David Ibsen: Mr. Schlesinger and the Warwick should be ashamed of themselves for misleading guests about the security situation at their hotel, and about who they are hosting. The Warwick irresponsibly decided to host Ahmadinejad--the leader of the world's number one state sponsor of terrorism--and his delegation in exchange for a six-figure sum. This is not LIKE other New York City hotels and restaurants, but UNLIKE them. UANI will be demonstrating at the Warwick throughout the weekend and week, to highlight Ahmadinejad's record and the Warwick's irresponsible decision. The Warwick is also not being upfront about the increased security at its hotel and who will be paying for it. Because of its irresponsible decision to host Ahmadinejad and his delegation, the Warwick has compelled both U.S. Secret Service and the NYPD to secure and guard the hotel at taxpayer expense. The Warwick could have, and should have, avoided this entire situation by doing what other Manhattan hotels did, and refusing Iran's request. If it wasn't for the Warwick, Ahmadinejad may have had to stay at his country's mission to the UN, instead of inconveniencing New Yorkers. Last month, UANI revealed that Ahmadinejad and his delegation will be staying at the Warwick, beginning this Saturday. UANI's campaign has been covered by the Associated Press, Fox 5 News and the New York Post, and was the subject of a Post Op-Ed by UANI CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace: "Say 'no' to A'jad, NY." Click here to read the Warwick's letter to its guests. Click here to express your concerns to the Warwick. Click here to read UANI's Monday New York Post Op-Ed, "Say 'no' to A'jad, NY." Click here to learn more about UANI's Warwick campaign.   ###  United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is a program of the American Coalition Against Nuclear Iran, Inc., a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran should concern every American and be unacceptable to the community of nations. Since 1979 the Iranian regime, most recently under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's leadership, has demonstrated increasingly threatening behavior and rhetoric toward the US and the West. Iran continues to defy the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations in their attempts to monitor its nuclear activities. A number of Arab states have warned that Iran's development of nuclear weapons poses a threat to Middle East stability and could provoke a regional nuclear arms race. In short, the prospect of a nuclear armed Iran is a danger to world peace. United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is a non-partisan, broad-based coalition that is united in a commitment to prevent Iran from fulfilling its ambition to become a regional super-power possessing nuclear weapons.  UANI is an issue-based coalition in which each coalition member will have its own interests as well as the collective goal of advancing an Iran free of nuclear weapons. The Objectives of United Against a Nuclear Iran Inform the public about the nature of the Iranian regime, including its desire and intent to possess nuclear weapons, as well as Iran's role as a state sponsor of global terrorism, and a major violator of human rights at home and abroad; Heighten awareness nationally and internationally about the danger that a nuclear armed Iran poses to the region and the world; Mobilize public support, utilize media outreach, and persuade our elected leaders to voice a robust and united American opposition to a nuclear Iran; Lay the groundwork for effective US policies in coordination with European and other allies; Persuade the regime in Tehran to desist from its quest for nuclear weapons, while striving not to punish the Iranian people, and; Promote efforts that focus on vigorous national and international, social, economic, political and diplomatic measures. UANI is led by an advisory board of outstanding national figures representing all sectors of our country.

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