Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani, the Secretary General of the Riyadh-based Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), today denounced media-circulated Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi statement on Bahrain in which he claimed that Iran defends and supports the rights of the people of Bahrain, describing such statements as flagrant interference in the affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain and abuse of diplomatic traditions and norms and the requirements of good neighborhood. In a press statement, Dr. Al-Zayani said the safeguard of the rights of the people of Bahrain is the responsibility of its prudent leadership who has decisively and firmly sought to enhance the country's security, stability and national peace adopting courageous initiatives, led by the start of dialogue to reach national reconciliation and the formation of an independent fact-finding committee to enhance national unity and push the reforms and progress process in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Secretary General of the GCC affirmed that the statement by the Iranian foreign minister and other Iranian officials just reflect the continuation of the Iranian method of interference in internal affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the spread of confusing propaganda which go contrary to building natural relations between the two countries. Al-Zayani called on the Iranian officials to rather pay attention to the human rights of the Iranian people and their repeated cry for freedom and dignity and to desist from their provocative role to implant the seeds of sedition and sectarian fracture which are considered as violations of the principles of good neighborhood, and international norms and laws.
