TUNIS
Tunisian Foreign Minister Mongi Hamdi on Tuesday denied that he had apologized to the US for statements made by Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani during celebrations last week for the country's new constitution.
"The Tunisian government has not apologized to the American side," Hamdi said Tuesday at a joint press conference with Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu, who is currently on a diplomatic visit to the Tunisian capital.
"Our guests are free to say whatever they want," Hamdi added. "It doesn't concern us; we won't get involved."
Speaking at a ceremony last Friday held by the Tunisian government to mark the endorsement of the country's new constitution, Larijani accused "imperialist countries" of supporting post-World War II dictatorships around the world.
He singled out the US in particular for its earlier support of former Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
The remarks prompted US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Maghreb Affairs William Roebuck, along with his accompanying delegation, to storm out of the event.
The US embassy in Tunisia blasted Larijani's assertions as "false and inappropriate."
Local Tunisian media outlets had quoted US ambassador Jake Walles as saying that members of the Tunisian government had called him to apologize for Larijani's statements.
By Ayman Gamali
englishnews@aa.com.tr
