Bahrain summons its ambassador to Iran

KUWAIT, July 25 (KUNA) -- Bahrain has summoned its ambassador to Iran for consultations, as Iranian officials continued their "hostile" statements against the Kingdom, according to an official statement by Manama on Saturday.
The statement, carried by the Bahrain News Agency (BNA), said that the Kingdom "strongly condemns the continued hostile statements made by officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran towards the Kingdom without the slightest consideration for the principles of good neighborliness or compliance with international laws, norms, the Charter of the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which all stress preventing and rejecting all forms of interference in the internal affairs of States." It added that Manama "affirms that the continuation of deliberate provocative statements made by Iranian officials at all levels and their interventions to support subversion and sedition only reflects a clear hostile stance." The statements also reveal "clearly the true strategy of intervention in the affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain aiming to stir up unrest and spread tensions in the region, instead of engaging in a positive role in finding ways to strengthen security and stability in the region as well as aiding in reaching solutions and treatments for the challenges and threats facing the region; mainly terrorism in all its forms and manifestations." In the meantime, Bahrain "reiterates that such unfortunate repeated statements do not at all reflect any real intentions of the Islamic Republic of Iran in establishing friendly and good neighborly relations with the Kingdom of Bahrain and all other (Gulf Cooperation Council) GCC states." It also stresses that it will "take all necessary measures and follows all ways guarantying the strengthening of security and safety of its people." The Bahraini Foreign Ministry expressed hope that "sophisticated normal relations between the two countries will prevail based on the principles of good neighborliness, mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs and adherence to the rules of international relations between independent and sovereign states." (end) mga.msa