‘Respect the borders’

Manama : Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul-Gheit urged Iran to adjust its expansionist policies and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of Bahrain.

He also warned the countries who have been pursuing the policy of interference in internal affairs of others saying that “borders are sacred” and everyone has to respect the borders.

“The protection of the rights of the minorities is the basic duty of the respective states. This job cannot be done by other countries as this amounts to a direct interference in the internal affairs of others,” Aboul Gheit said during the last plenary session of the 12 Manama Dialogue in Bahrain yesterday.

“No stability in the Middle East can be guaranteed without a total change in behaviour by Iran. The Iranian approach to defend or protect the Shias living in other countries is basically creating problems,” he said, adding that Iran should respect the sovereignty of the other countries to keep the stability of the entire region intact.

 Similarly, the occupation of the UAE islands by Iran was also condemned with the Secretary-General terming it as a ‘major irritant’ and a ‘destabilising factor’ in the region. 

“If you try to play with borders and you’ll have continual wars,” he warned.  

‘Israel is against peace’

Only if Israel changes its approach towards Palestine can a long lasting peace be achieved in the Arab region, according to the Arab League Secretary General.

He told the participants at the Manama Dialogue yesterday that the two nations living in peace side by side is the only solution to the current crisis persisting for many decades. 

“Israel is the problem. They do not want to negotiate on the two state solution,” he said.

The Secretary General also called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to assume responsibility by stopping settlements and reversing anti-Palestine policies to bring a peaceful resolution.