Lebanese expats could suffer because of Aoun’s remarks

Arab Gulf Countries were moving toward taking restrictive measures toward Lebanese expats in light of remarks made by the Free Patriotic Movement leader regarding the Bahrain anti-regime movement, according to a report by Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar.

The Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Abdul Latif al-Zayani informed the Lebanese Chargé d’Affaires in Riyadh Mounir Anouti that Lebanese expats won’t be allowed into Gulf countries if the Lebanese government did not take a stance regarding MP Michel Aoun’s latest remarks, Al-Akhbar reported

It added that Kuwait informed the Lebanese embassy of its condemnation of the FPM leader’s stance.

On Monday, Zayani presented Anouti with a démarche protesting the recent remarks made by Aoun.

This development comes after Bahrain on Friday, summoned the Lebanese charge d’affaires at the Lebanese Embassy Ibrahim Assaf over remarks made by Aoun , which Bahrain considered “irresponsible meddling in its internal affairs.”

Aoun had told al-Alam last Wednesday that the demands of the protesters in Bahrain are “fair and justified.”

He criticized the Arab League and international community for failing to support the protests in Bahrain.

Aoun added: “It’s unfortunate that a peaceful revolution, which has been oppressed and going on for three years, has not been recognized enough by the world.”

Aoun is closely associated with Hezbollah militant group which has been supporting the uprising against the monarchy in Bahrain.

Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah saluted the Bahraini revolution on Saturday during a televised speech

Bahrain’s Information Minister Samira Rajab accused Hezbollah on Saturday, of “extremism” and “terrorism,” describing it as a “terrorist militia.”

Prime Minister Najib Mikati telephoned on Sunday his Bahraini counterpart Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman, stressing that Lebanon respects Bahrain’s sovereignty and to ignore the stances voiced by some Lebanese leaders since they do not reflect the government’s official stance.

Mikati expressed to the Bahraini premier “Lebanon’s appreciation for Bahrain’s leadership and people,” lauding Manama’s “pioneering role in the Arab region and the world,” according to a press release issued by his office.