EU declares Hezbollah's military wing terror group
Unanimous decision by 28-nation bloc to put Shiite movement on terror list reached due to its involvement in Syrian civil war, attacks on European soil, including bombing of Israeli tourist bus in Burgas. Dutch FM: Good that EU has decided to call Hezbollah what it is
The European Union has placed the military wing of Lebanese party Hezbollah on its terror list, an official said Monday.
The EU's 28 foreign ministers reached the decision unanimously at their monthly meeting, swiftly swaying the last nations that had any doubts.
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The blacklisting would mean imposing visa bans on individuals and asset freezes on organizations associated with the group. But the implementation would be complicated since officials would have to unravel the links between the different wings within Hezbollah's organizational network and see who could be targeted for belonging to the military wing.
The Iranian-backed group plays a pivotal role in Lebanese politics, dominating the government since 2011, and has since sent its members to bolster Syria's President Bashar Assad forces in their assault of rebel-held areas.
The group was also accused of involvement in last year's attack on Israeli tourists in Bulgaria. It has refuted that allegation.
Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans welcomed the decision.
"It is good that the EU has decided to call Hezbollah what it is: A terrorist organization," he said.
Before the EU ministers reached their decision, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said that evidence from last year's attack in the Black Sea resort of Burgas in Bulgaria, which killed five Israeli tourists and one Bulgarian, should give enough impetus for the move. Westerwelle said that "we have to answer this, and the answer is" blacklisting Hezbollah's the military wing.
The attack on EU territory plus a Cyprus criminal court decision in March finding a Hezbollah member guilty of helping to plan attacks on Israelis on the Mediterranean island has galvanized EU diplomacy in moving toward action.
"We should name names because time comes to tell the truth," said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Antanas Linkevicius, who chaired Monday's meeting. "What was done by the military wing in the region and elsewhere I would say, there should be some reaction."
The Iranian-backed group plays a pivotal role in Lebanese politics, dominating the government since 2011, and has since sent its members to bolster Syria's President Bashar Assad forces in their assault of rebel-held areas.
Even though evidence from Bulgaria and Cyprus will be key in the decision, several EU nations also have pointed to Hezbollah's involvement in Syria as a reason for the move.
Hague said that blacklisting Hezbollah's military wing would not "destabilize Lebanon or have serious adverse consequences."
"It is important for us to show that we are united and strong in facing terrorism," Hague said.
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