European Union governments decided on Monday to include Lebanese militant group Hezbollah's armed branch in the list of terrorist organizations, in a move that is feared to fuel tensions in Lebanon and the Middle East region at large.
Hezbollah's engagement in the Syrian civil war seems to have been an important factor in the EU decision, the Anadolu Agency correspondent says.
The group has been a staunch supporter of the Assad regime, and has consistently backed its operations against opposition fighters.
Hezbollah is suspected of being involved in a bomb attack in Bulgaria last year that killed five Israeli tourists, which prompted Bulgaria to act earlier than the whole of EU to put the entire organization into its own blacklist.
The Lebanese government on Friday had called on the EU not to go ahead with the move, calling Hezbollah's armed branch an "essential part of the Lebanese society."
While its military wing has been blacklisted, EU leaders have pledged continued dialogue with the group's civilian branch, diplomatic sources say.
It will take several weeks for the 28-member bloc to lay the legal groundwork for the decision. In the meantime, Hezbollah may apply to the European Court of Justice in an effort to have it canceled, the AA correspondent says.
The decision allows potential asset freezes and travel bans against Hezbollah members, while EU police agency Europol can now be authorized to coordinate operations against the organization.
- 'Calling it what it is'
EU ministers for the most part were unequivocal about the significance of the decision.
"It is important for us to show that we are united and strong in facing terrorism," British Foreign Minister William Hague said.
The move would not "destabilize Lebanon or have serious adverse consequences," he said.
The EU "cannot allow the military wing of Hezbollah to carry out any terrorist activities here in the European Union," German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said.
Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans maintained it is "good that the EU has decided to call Hezbollah what it is: a terrorist organization."
The move means Hezbollah's activities in Europe would be restricted, he added.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
