Arab League condemns Iranian interferences

Cairo, Sept. 14 (BNA): The Arab League Council at Foreign Ministers Level expressed its grave concern over the continuous Iranian interferences in the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the attempts to sow discord and sectarian strife between its citizens, as well as undermining its security, stability and the interests of its citizens, be it through harboring fugitives from justice, the opening of the Iranian camps for the training of terrorist groups or via smuggling weapons and explosives to carry out terrorist operations inside the Kingdom, the support of sabotage, terrorism and incitement to violence and media coverage for this purpose, or through statements issued from senior Iranian officials every now and then, which constitute a breach of the principles of good neighborliness, international norms and laws, and principles of the United Nations. This came during the participation of the Assistant of the Foreign Minister Abdullah Faisal Jabr Al-Dosari at the 144th Session of the Arab League Council at the Ministerial level on Sunday, September 13 in Egypt. The Arab League Council’s statement described Iran policy of interference in the domestic affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain and other states of the region as a serious threat to the regional and international peace and security after it mounted to unprecedented levels in violation of applicable laws that govern relations between states, and threatens to spark serious sectarian war that will be difficult to control or avoid. The ministerial council called on the Islamic Republic of Iran to immediately desist from such practices in restricts compliance with the principles of good neighborliness, international laws, norms and conventions to safeguard the regional security and stability. The Arab ministerial Council approved the inclusion of "Iranian interference in neighboring countries as a top agenda item of the upcoming sessions of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level. The Ministerial Council strongly condemned the terrorist acts that have recently swept Bahrain and claimed the lives of a number of security personnel and innocent civilians, stressing its firm support of the Kingdom of Bahrain and all measures it has taken to protect its national security and eradicate all forms and manifestations of terrorism plague. In another context, the Arab League Council endorsed the appointment of Khalil Al- Thawadi as assistant secretary-general of the Arab League. The Council welcomed the upcoming meeting of the first session of the Arab-Indian Forum to be held in the Kingdom of Bahrain on the 20th of December, and also discussed a number of political, economic and social issues, notably related to the situation in Yemen, Syria and Libya. On terrorism, the Arab League Council at the ministerial level has condemned all acts of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and by whomever committed and wherever they have been committed, calling on Member States to continue to provide the Secretariat with a comprehensive report that includes all actions and measures taken to combat terrorism, as well as urging both Arab interior and justice ministers to consider activating strategies, conventions and the relevant resolutions of the fight against terrorism, stressing the importance of enacting legislation and laws, taking actions and measures to counter extremist ideology that motivated terrorism and incited sectarian conflicts, and called on Arabs to make avail of the capabilities of the United Nations Counterterrorism Centre established under the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.