Bahrain slams Nasrallah’s statement, warns of repercussions on ties with Lebanon

Manama: Bahrain on Sunday condemned the statements by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, saying they were blatant interference in its domestic affairs and warning that they would affect Lebanon's relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

“The Kingdom of Bahrain, the sovereign and independent state, condemns the lies and allegations by Hassan Nasrallah on the current developments in Bahrain and which serve foreign goals and planned schemes that he revealed,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

“The government of Lebanon assumes the repercussions of the false declarations and allegations and which will most certainly affect bilateral relations,” the ministry said.

Bahrainis who stand with their leaders and are keen on the dignity, security and stability of their country will not be drawn to terrorist speeches given by people like Hassan Nasrallah, the ministry said.

“We do condemn his blatant interference in Bahrain’s domestic affairs and his odd behavior, which represent a violation of the sovereignty of Bahrain, a member in the United Nations, the Arab League, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the Gulf Cooperation Council,” the ministry said in a statement carried by Bahrain News Agency (BNA).

Bahrain highlights the honourable stance of the GCC and its security, defence and economic support as well as its endorsement of the measures and procedures it has taken recently, the statement said.

"This honourbale stance stems from a deep belief in the common destiny of the GCC and the common responsibility in maintaining security and stability in the Gulf. It is also based on the principle of collective, integrated and interdependent security, the consideration that the security and stability of the GCC countries are indivisible and the commitment to covenants and agreements on security and common defence," the ministry said.

The statement said that Bahrain, which condemns and denounces the bellicose statements, confirms that they do not serve security and stability in the region and will affect the interests of Lebanon in Bahrain and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, at a time when we are in desperate need to stand united against those who want to undermine our security and our stability.