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memri
Mar 31, 2006
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Journalist Sawsan Al-Sha'er Expresses Bahraini Fears of Iranian Nuclear Project

#1101 | 02:14
Source: Al-Arabiya Network (Dubai/Saudi Arabia)

Following are excerpts from an interview with Bahraini journalist Sawsan Al-Sha'er, which aired on Al-Arabiya TV on March 31, 2006.

Interviewer: Do you think that Iran is still trying to control Bahrain or to operate there?

Sawsan Al-Sha'er: Our problem with Iran is their ambiguous discourse, which we cannot make heads or tails of. During friendly visits we see one thing, but in reality, we see something else.

Interviewer: What goes on in reality?

Sawsan Al-Sha'er: In reality, we sometimes encounter provocative statements by some officials, who make threats. We encounter vagueness regarding the nuclear issue.

Interviewer: On the part of Iranian officials?

Sawsan Al-Sha'er: Yes.

Interviewer: But regarding the nuclear issue, when the Bahraini foreign minister visited Iran, he said that it is for peaceful purposes.

Sawsan Al-Sha'er: By Allah, I found the foreign minister's statement odd.

Interviewer: You have become holier than the Pope.

Sawsan Al-Sha'er: Not holier than the Pope, but the issue is still unclear to me. I will tell you something that only few journalists know, although it has been mentioned in our press. The Iranian embassy invited [Bahraini] journalists to Iran, to visit the nuclear facilities. All the journalists who were invited were Shiites.

Interviewer: There were no Sunnis?

Sawsan Al-Sha'er: No.

[...]

Our problem is not that Israel is treated like a spoiled child, while Iran... My problem is that the nuclear reactor is closer to Manama than to Tehran. That's my problem. Even if it were just an environmental issue - forget about security - I would still have a problem with it.

[...]

Interviewer: Do you think the nuclear reactor poses a real threat to Bahrain?

Sawsan Al-Sha'er: To the entire region.

Interviewer: Even if it is for peaceful purposes, or do you doubt that it is?

Sawsan Al-Sha'er: Even if it is for peaceful purposes. I have no proof yet that this is the case, and nobody has any proof of this. All we have are promises that it will be used for peaceful purposes.

Interviewer: So the Iranian embassy should invite you for a visit to convince you it is for peaceful purposes? If you were invited, would you go?

Sawsan Al-Sha'er: How would I be able to tell? If I went, they'd show me facilities, and tell me they are for peaceful purposes - this is supposed to satisfy me?

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