Lebanese FM: EU should reconsider Hezbollah blacklisting

by Layal Abu Rahal

A boy wearing an army suit is held by people as they watch Lebanon’s Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah as he appears on a screen during a live broadcast to speak to his supporters at an event marking Resistance and Liberation Day, in Bekaa valley May 25, 2013. (REUTERS/Sharif Karim)

Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour said on Saturday that the European Union should “think carefully” before placing Hezbollah on its list of terrorist organizations.

The EU is due to discuss the issue on Monday.

Speaking during a radio interview, Mansour said: “this decision cannot be dealt with lightly or recklessly,” adding that “the decision will have negative consequences and will not serve Lebanese-European relations. It will hinder bilateral relations we hope to keep at their best.”

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman appointed Mansour last Thursday, after consultation with the head of caretaker government Najib Mikati, to “represent Lebanon and request from the EU’s commission not to include Hezbollah—an essential component of the Lebanese society—on the list of terrorist, especially if the decision is to be taken hastily without reference to objective and compelling evidence.”

EU foreign ministers are due to meet in Brussels tomorrow to make a joint decision on including the military wing of Hezbollah on the blacklist of terrorist organizations, on the basis of its alleged involvement in bombings in Bulgaria and preparation for an attack in Cyprus.

Future Movement MP Ammar Houry told Asharq Al-Awsat: “Despite our absolute rejection of placing Hezbollah on Europe’s list of terrorist, we believe they brought this onto themselves,” noting the “many efforts by former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, years before his assassination, to prevent Hezbollah from being placed on this list.”

Houry also said: “It is in the interest of Lebanon not to include Hezbollah on the list of terrorism because of the natural implications it would lead to.”

He added: “we have already warned Hezbollah not to get involved in terrorist matters, particularly in Syria—namely Qusayr, Homs, Aleppo and Damascus—and particularly in Western and Eastern countries such as Bulgaria, Cyprus and Azerbaijan.”

If the organization is added to the blacklist, it will not affect the political dialogue between the European Union and the Lebanese government and Lebanese civil society, given that the decision to enlist focuses on Hezbollah’s military wing. However, Lebanon’s foreign minister said: “including the military wing on the list of terrorist might as well include the political wing. Lebanon cannot act like this is a consolation.”

Mansour added: “If the decision is taken, it will require Lebanon to do what it is unable to do. There are several countries working to place Hezbollah on the list of terrorists, including Britain, and Jewish lobbyists are pushing for this.”

He said, however, that he suspected complications regarding this decision due to differences between countries.

Though some countries are still reluctant to include about this decision such as Malta and Ireland, it is being supported by other countries including Britain, France and Germany. Both Britain and the Netherlands have already included Hezbollah in their national list of terrorist organizations.


Layal Abu Rahal

Source: http://www.aawsat.net/2013/07/article55310657

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