LOC16:48
13:48 GMT
PARIS, May 21 (KUNA) -- France confirmed on Tuesday that a European Union
procedure was underway to determine if there was sufficient cause to list the
Hezbollah organisation, or part of it, as "a terrorist" entity.
There has been widespread speculation that the EU would examine the
Hezbollah case after the Lebanese group, which is also a political party, was
accused of involvement in an anti-Israeli attack in Bulgaria last summer, when
Israeli tourists were targeted and five died in addition to a Bulgarian bus
driver.
Several other contexts for alleged terrorist acts by Hezbollah could also
be produced, the French Foreign Ministry indicated.
"It is correct that a procedure by the 27 (EU members) has been started,"
Foreign Ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot said.
Israel had been pressuring for years to have Hezbollah declared a terrorist
organisation, but several European Union countries had resisted the call to
engage this procedure and examine the Lebanese group because Hezbollah was a
major part of the government in Beirut and also had other powerful political
and social functions.
Now the EU has been officially called upon to examine the case by one of
its members. French diplomats said that France had not called for the
procedure, but they would not identify who did, although Britain is seen as a
likely candidate.
Confidentiality applies to the procedure and the name of the EU member who
called for it, French officials said.
The European Union will now "re-examine the question of an eventual listing
of Hezbollah on the European terrorist lists," Lalliot indicated, noting this
was a "specific procedure," separate from political discussions on the subject
is not under time limit, although this process should not take too long.
After the procedure is completed, the decision by this technical group on
terrorism will be put before EU ministers for adoption.
Officials here said that it was up to Britain to provide the technical and
other information to back a demand to put Hezbollah on the terrorist list and
that unanimity is required to take the decision any further.
"For us, all of the elements involving Hezbollah must be taken into account,
" notably "the results of investigations by the Cypriot and Bulgarian
authorities following the Burgas attack (in Bulgaria)," the French spokesman
added.
But he also remarked that there were other considerations linked to the
"more and more manifest and direct involvement - recognised by Hezbollah - in
the Syrian crisis and in supporting the regime of Bashar Al-Assad."
Hezbollah's role in Lebanese politics will be a factor and the "political
balance" in that country "is also part of the discussion" that will take place
among EU nations. (end)
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