Bassil: Uproar over Nasrallah's Bahrain Claims Must Prompt Powers to Respect Disassociation Policy
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil declared that Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's recent remarks on Bahrain do not reflect the stance of Lebanon, reported the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat on Sunday.
He hoped to the daily that the furore over the claims would “prompt all sides to understand the need to refrain from meddling in the affairs of other countries.”
“This principle should be respected by all countries and powers,” he stressed.
He added: “We performed our duties as part of the Foreign Ministry and government as soon as the statements were made.”
“The remarks do not reflect in any way whatsoever Lebanon's official stance on Bahrain,” Bassil stressed.
“Several Lebanese political powers express their own views and the government is not bound by them,” explained the minister.
Furthermore, he attributed the recent uproar over Nasrallah's statements to freedom of expression in Lebanon.
“No country has been spared from freedom of expression in Lebanon, which is a double-edged sword,” he noted.
“We should not make Lebanon support burdens that exceed its capacity,” he continued
“We also should not hold the Lebanese people responsible for the actions or positions of a certain faction,” urged the foreign minister.
“The Lebanese residing abroad are paying the price of such positions, but we do not want them to be harmed. It is enough that they have been forced to immigrate to escape political disputes,” Bassil added.
“For their part, fraternal and friendly countries should not punish the Lebanese people residing there,” he stated.
On January 9, Nasrallah alleged the presence of a “Zionist-like naturalization scheme” in Bahrain.
He also noted that top Bahraini dissident Sheikh Ali Salman, who was recently jailed by authorities, “has never called for toppling the regime and he did not incite to violence.”
“The authorities in Bahrain will realize that they are acting in a foolish way. They can imprison most of the Bahraini people but that will only stop the protests on the streets and they will not be able to stop the protests in prisons,” said Nasrallah.
His statement was met by broad Arab dismay, with the Gulf Cooperation Council announcing the remarks contained “an incitement to violence and discord.”
Bahrain for its part summoned Lebanon's charge d'affaires, urging a “clear condemnation” of Nasrallah's stances.
The UAE's foreign ministry also summoned the Lebanese ambassador on Monday, handing him a protest letter over what it described as “hostile statements.”
Prime Minister Tammam Salam on Saturday announced that remarks coming from “any political party” regarding Bahrain or any other country do not reflect the official stances of the Lebanese government even if the party is a part of it.
He explained in the statement that “the political diversity in Lebanon allows differences in the stances regarding national and international issues, but this must not justify harming the Lebanese interests or relations with any of our brotherly or friendly countries.”
M.T.
18 January 2015, 09:49
67
too little, too late!
who is nasrallah to allow himself such comments?
he should be prosecuted to the extreme extent of the law. this is not freedom of speech, rather this is instigation against an Arab country, and it is forbidden by law.
this Iranian traitor in chief is jeoparding the relations of Lebanon with its Arab entourage.
this is the ultimate target of iran: to estrange Lebanon from its Arab origins.
18 January 2015, 15:38
23
Most Lebanese consider themselves to be Arabs. Lebanon is a founding member of the Arab League. Therefore, Lebanon is an. Arab country. This is no longer controversial to the overwhelming majority of Lebanese.
18 January 2015, 15:39
31
Shab - you are a bigot. A jarab is a person like you who identifies hundred of millions of people as such.
18 January 2015, 10:57
48
Furthermore, he attributed the recent uproar over Nasrallah's statements to freedom of expression in Lebanon.
What a lame excuse to justify nasrallah's interference in Syria, Bahrain, Iraq, Yemen etc. Freedom of speech works only when this incompetent person wants it to work. Sending terrorist fighters to kill innocent native inhabitants in neighboring countries, referring to Bahrain as a Zionist regime, and arming the opposition in Bahrain is freedom of Speech.... Uffff. Why when a person in Lebanon carries a flag of Nusra he is arrested and jailed. Shouldn't freedom of speech apply equally to both terrorist organizations.... I guess not.
18 January 2015, 11:16
03
Disassociation policy, why Hajj Mouhammad Raad is boiling it and havihg it in lieu of Tea.
18 January 2015, 12:01
43
Not that I like or respect Bassil, but this is a good statement and I am surprised that he made it.
When someone in power acts in the interest of the citizens of Lebanon he should be applauded because it is such a rare occurence.
Moreover, free expression in Lebanon is sacred. Any citizen has the right to give his opinion on any issue. Lebanon does not lack politicians criticizing Assad's bloody rule, so why should we deny Nasrallah his right, as long as it is an opinion and not some unilateral action that could be deemed illegal, (like Hezbollah's armed presence in Syria).
We should be consistent when it comes with freedom of speech.
Moreover, the GCC is giving too much weight to Nasrallah's opinions. He really is not important anymore. He is protecting alleged murderers of Rafic Hariri and alleged Assassins of Boutros Harb and protecting the bloody Syrian regime.
18 January 2015, 16:05
25
Machia; we are not talking about free expression here. Nassrallah heads a terrorist organization that sends its killers to foreign land and commits massacres. Had Nassrallah been the head of a political party he can express his opinion surely.
18 January 2015, 12:20
26
Ebola is a killer disease, killing our institutions, our economy, tourism, security, sabotaging justice, dividing people and creating hatred.
18 January 2015, 12:20
35
Because free speech in the Islamic Republic of Iran and in Baathist republic of Syria is sacred of course!
18 January 2015, 12:22
26
Lebanon a free country??? You must be kidding !!!It is under occupation by Ebola the Iranian disease.
18 January 2015, 15:44
23
Yes southern - let us talk about how retarded the situation in Lebanon where a militia has put itself above the law and has ruined the country.
18 January 2015, 15:46
24
Indeed southern as there is something deeply troubling is our society where a foreign armed militia does as it wishes, is above the law and above the constitution.
18 January 2015, 15:47
23
Yes southern - let us talk about how retarded the situation in Lebanon where a militia has put itself above the law and has ruined the country.
18 January 2015, 16:15
24
No Iran is not better than anyone else in the Middle East. The presidential candidates are chosen and dismissed to suit The Supreme Leader, Khamanei.
And if they do not comply, they are arrested.
As for the GCC and Bahrain in particular, Nasrallah can say whatever he wants, (as long as he does not act) and I can criticize him and say that if he cares so much about Bahraini freedoms, he should have cared even more about Syrians'freedoms because it is next door.
But it is not about freedoms but about power. What Nasrallah is saying is we are with bloody oppressors and murderers, (286,455 deaths in Syria) that are allied with us but we are against those (Bahrain deaths: 122) that are not with us.
18 January 2015, 16:36
23
yes you are right there. but please also critisez the regimes in syrian and iran; they are no more democratical, but actually they are tyrannical ; remember that over 20 000 prisones in iran have been executed without judgements since the start of the iranian islamic shiite revolution.
18 January 2015, 16:39
23
actually iran and syria are no better than those arab regimes but far worse; the outright persecution of opposition and massacres that happened in those two countries has no equal in any of the arab countries
18 January 2015, 18:15
03
veridisquo, you really know how to make a point the Islamic Republic sort of way!
Your language reminds me of the good old days of the Syrian occupation:
Insults and car bombs. The height of free speech!
