Official Source issues Statement

Riyadh, February 18, SPA -- A Saudi official source issued here today
a statement condemning the repeated allegations and remarks by a
number of Iranian officials, political and media figures purporting
rights in the Kingdom of Bahrain especially those made by Chief
Editor of Kayhan Newspaper; Adviser to the Supreme Leader as well as
earlier remarks by Special Inspector Nategh Nuri, and Iranian
parliament member Darius Guenbri.

The source stated that "The Kingdom believes that such irresponsible
statements are only an attempt to go around the historical and
geographical facts, and constitute a flagrant infringement on the
sovereignty of a member of the Cooperation Council for the Arab Gulf
States (GCC) in addition to its membership in the League of Arab
States and the United Nations as they represent a transgression
against the Kingdom of Bahrain and its Arab identity".

The source also added that "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia categorically
rejects such statements and expresses its deep regret over such views
stressing that such remarks place obstacles in the way of good
intentions aiming to build good-neighborly relations between the GCC
States and Iran based on friendliness and mutual respect as well as
initiatives to achieve security and stability in the region and avert
a rift between Muslims".

--SPA