Lebanon Voices Reservations on Arab League Statement Calling Hizbullah 'Terrorist'
The closing statement of an emergency Arab League meeting labeled Hizbullah as “terrorist” on Sunday, which prompted Lebanon’s representative to voice reservations over certain clauses.
The statement accused Hizbullah of “training terrorist groups” in Bahrain, “supporting terrorist groups” in Saudi Arabia, and “supporting terror and terrorist groups in Arab countries with advanced weapons and ballistic missiles.”
And describing Hizbullah as a “partner in the Lebanese government,” the statement also accused the group of “spreading extremism and sectarianism” and “interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.”
Iraq also voiced reservations over a clause condemning Iran’s role in the region and another labeling Hizbullah as “terrorist.”
LBCI television said Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil -- who skipped the meeting -- held phone talks with more than 10 Arab foreign ministers and managed to omit from the statement a clause holding “the Lebanese republic” responsible for “Hizbullah’s terrorist acts.”
The Lebanese envoy to the meeting, Antoine Azzam, made carefully weighed comments at the talks.
While not mentioning Iran by name, he said Lebanon condemned all attacks against Arab nations, but blamed exploitable inter-Arab divisions that allowed international and regional powers to promote their interests.
Speaking earlier at the meeting, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister warned that the kingdom would not stand idly by in the face of Iranian "aggression", as Bahrain said Iran-backed Hizbullah was "in total control" of Lebanon.
The Arab League meeting comes as tensions soar between regional arch-rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, mainly over Yemen and Lebanon.
Source: Naharnet
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