Manama: An alleged interview with Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa published by The Daily Telegraph has been denied by his court.
“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Bahrain has not undertaken an interview with The Daily Telegraph on an ‘exclusive’ or any other basis,” the court said in a statement carried by Bahrain News Agency (BNA).
The report quoted the crown prince as saying that the US’ policy in the region was “schizophrenic” and that its Arab allies may be forced to review their relations with America and turn to a more “reliable” Russia for better relations.
“A Telegraph correspondent was part of a wider delegation of individuals who met HRH the Crown Prince yesterday [Sunday] on the sidelines of the Manama Dialogue,” the official news agency said, referring to the three-day international security conference in the Bahraini capital.
The crown prince hosted the dinner banquet marking the opening of the conference attended by more than 20 high-ranking ministers, including US Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel and UK Foreign Secretary William Hague who delivered the inaugural address.
Prince Salman was regularly present at the Manama Dialogue premises where he held bilateral talks with senior officials from various countries.
“His Royal Highness made comments that specifically related to the growing dangers in the region, and their potential spillover effects internationally, due to deepening radical extremism and, especially, increasing concerns about the regional situation due to perceptions about the Western foreign policy,” the court statement said.
“The Court of the Crown Prince therefore rejects the misleading comments ascribed to the Crown Prince in the article on this basis and in the context they were presented,” the court said.
