Munich conference host confirms absence of Iranian official

MUNICH, February 9 (RIA Novosti) - The organizer of an international security policy conference in Munich confirmed on Friday that the head of Iran's National Security Council has not turned up at the forum.

Ali Larijani had been scheduled to speak at the February 9-11 Munich Conference on Security Policy. However, IRNA news agency reported earlier in the day that Ali Larijani had canceled his trip due to illness.

Asked by RIA Novosti about the official's absence, Horst Teltschik confirmed that the Iranian side had said it was due to illness.

The 43rd international security conference in Munich will be devoted to the 50th anniversary of the European Union. Russian President Vladimir Putin will be attending at the invitation of the German chancellor. More than 250 state and political figures from more than 40 nations will take part in the event.

Germany holds the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union until July, and is also one of the six mediating parties on the international dispute surrounding Iran's nuclear program.