US Congressmen push back against EU on failure to blacklist Hezbollah
Michael Wilner, JPost, Hun 21 2013
WASHINGTON — After developments on Wednesday set back efforts to convince the European Union to list Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, members of Congress are expressing their disappointment and calling for a renewed push against reluctant EU member states. Great Britain had been leading the initiative, but Italy, Austria and the Czech Republic continue to harbor reservations, Reuters reported, fearful that the listing would result in terrorist reprisals in Europe and further upheaval in the Middle East (??! – RB). A unanimous vote by EU members is required to classify Hezbollah as a terrorist enterprise. In a statement to the JPost, Eliot Engel said:
I am very disappointed” that some countries in the EU continue to believe that Hezbollah is not a terrorist organization. EU-US cooperation on combating global terrorism will continue to face unnecessary obstacles until Hezbollah is properly labeled a terrorist organization, in its entirety. “Nonetheless, I applaud the efforts of the UK, France and Germany, and am confident that this situation will change in the future.
Doug Lamborn signaled that the pressure on reluctant EU countries would not abate, saying:
It is critical that our friends and allies across the Atlantic publicly declare Hezbollah a terror organization so that we can choke off the funding this dangerous terrorist group gets across Europe. All of our friends and allies in Europe need to step forward against this organization, which has killed more USAians than any other after al-Qaida, because inaction is only emboldening them.
Judge for yourself whether Reuters really said those countries opposed were “fearful that the listing would result in terrorist reprisals in Europe and further upheaval in the Middle East” – RB
Britain fails to get EU backing for Hezbollah blacklisting
Justyna Pawlak, Reuters, Jun 19 2013
BRUSSELS – A British drive to put Hezbollah’s armed wing on the EU’s terror list again ran into resistance on Wednesday from governments concerned it would fuel instability in the Middle East, diplomats said. Britain’s request was discussed for a second time by a special European Union group following an inconclusive meeting on Jun 4, but British diplomats failed to win over a number of skeptical governments. Diplomats said the discussions were not over, but Britain may escalate the issue to a higher level, possibly to a July meeting of foreign ministers. A diplomat said:
There was no agreement and the understanding was the issue will be discussed further, but not in this forum.
Britain has argued that Hezbollah should face European sanctions because of evidence that it was behind a bus bombing in Bulgaria last July that killed five Israelis and their driver. Hezbollah denies any involvement. Britain also has cited a four-year jail sentence handed down by a Cypriot court in March to a Hezbollah member accused of plotting to attack Israeli interests on the island. The British proposal has gained urgency and some support in Europe in recent weeks amid signs that Hezbollah is increasingly involved in the Syrian civil war. Diplomats say a majority of the 27 EU member states, including France and Germany, back the British proposal. But unanimity is needed and Austria, the Czech Republic and Italy are among EU governments that have voiced reservations. Blacklisting the group would mark a major policy shift for the European Union, which has resisted pressure from Israel and Washington to do so for years. Several EU governments have questioned whether there is sufficient evidence to link Hezbollah to the attack in Bulgaria, according to EU diplomats. One EU diplomat said:
There are legal considerations. We haven’t seen the evidence.
Already on the EU blacklist are groups such as Hamas and the PKK. Their assets in Europe are frozen and they have no access to cash there, meaning they are blocked from raising money for their activities.
It is possible that Netanyahu’s office is responsible for the spin:
Netanyahu signals annoyance with EU over Hezbollah
Jeffrey Heller, Justyna Pawlak, Reuters, Jun 20 2013
Clearly not happy together – RB
JERUSALEM – Netanyahu voiced exasperation on Thursday with the European Union’s reluctance to classify Hezbollah as a terrorist group. He told Catherine Ashton, the EU’s foreign policy chief, at the public start of their meeting in his office:
I mean, it’s hard to see how you cannot have a consensus on Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. If Hezbollah isn’t a terrorist organization, I don’t know what is a terrorist organization.
Responding to Netanyahu, Ashton said:
I hear what you say, especially on your concerns about what’s happening with Hezbollah. And we will talk about these things.
A British proposal to put Hezbollah on the EU’s terrorism blacklist was resisted on Wednesday by some of the bloc’s 27 members who fear such action would fuel instability in the Middle East, diplomats said. Britain has argued that Hezbollah should face European sanctions because of evidence it was behind a bus bombing in Bulgaria that killed five Israelis and their driver in July. Hezbollah, which the US lists as a terrorist organization, denies any involvement in the attack. Diplomats said some EU governments had questioned whether there was solid evidence of Hezbollah involvement. Bulgaria’s new government expressed similar doubts this month, but now says it will not impede blacklisting the group. The British proposal gained more support in Europe in recent weeks after Hezbollah became openly involved in Syria’s civil war. In arguing its case, Britain has also pointed to a four-year jail term a court in Cyprus imposed on a Hezbollah member accused of plotting to attack Israeli interests on the island. Diplomats say a majority of EU member states, including France and Germany, back the British proposal. But unanimity is needed and Austria, the Czech Republic and Italy have voiced reservations over what would be a major policy shift for the EU. Hamas and the PKK are already on the EU blacklist, and their assets in Europe have been frozen.
Niqnaq 