BEIRUT: Prime Minister Najib Mikati informed ambassadors from Gulf Cooperation countries Thursday that Lebanon was keen to avoid interfering in the internal affairs of Arab states.

Mikati received Qatari Ambassador Saad Ali Hilal al-Muhannadi, Omani Ambassador Ahmad al-Ibrahim, Kuwaiti Ambassador Abdel-Aal al-Qanahi and the United Arab Emirates’ charge d’affaires in Lebanon Hamad al-Junaibi.

The prime minister held the meeting in the wake of a tiff between Bahrain and Lebanon over statements by Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, who last week criticized the international community and the Arab League for failing to take the side of anti-government protesters in Bahrain.

Mikati said “political statements only reflect the views of those who express them, and not the Lebanese government,” adding that he urged all leaders to abide by the Baabda Declaration, which calls for keeping Lebanon distant from regional alliances and struggles.

“This declaration says literally that ‘Lebanon should be kept neutral from the politics of regional and international alliances and struggles, and should avoid the negative repercussion of regional crises and tensions,’” the prime minister told his visitors.

During Wednesday’s Cabinet session, President Michel Sleiman reminded politicians that they should adhere to the Baabda Declaration, which was issued after a session of National Dialogue last year.

Sleiman also denounced a banner that was hung off a pedestrian bridge outside Beirut, featuring an unflattering image of King Abdullah bin Abdel-Aziz of Saudi Arabia, and tasked Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi with following up the issue.

Mikati told the diplomats that “Lebanon’s relations with Gulf countries have been, and will be, ones of affection and brotherhood, and will in no way be influenced by a political statement here, or a comment there.”

“The overwhelming majority of the Lebanese appreciate the stances of Gulf states, which have always stood with Lebanon and its prosperity and recovery,” he added. “We also appreciate how leaders in these states have been fatherly protectors of the affairs of Lebanese who reside in these countries.”