Mansour Contacts 28 EU Foreign Ministers Asking Not to Blacklist Hizbullah
Caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour sent on Friday letters to 28 of his European counterparts asking them to “act according to President Michel Suleiman's guidance” regarding placing Hizbullah on the list of "terrorist organizations."
"Mansour hoped in the letters that the European Union's ministers would not blacklist Hizbullah,” the state-run National News Agency reported.
Mansour explained that the party (Hizbullah) is a “main component of Lebanon's politics and is represented at the parliament and in the cabinet.”
He warned: “Blacklisting Hizbullah would have negative consequences on the political scene in the country.”
"But we stress on the importance of the great bilateral relations between Lebanon and the EU and we thank the support of the union's member-states to Lebanon in various fields.”
Meanwhile, the NNA said that Loyalty to Resistance bloc head MP Mohammed Raad telephoned Suleiman, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Mansour, thanking them on their efforts that aimed at blocking the blacklisting of Hizbullah.
Earlier on Friday, Speaker Nabih Berri contacted the president to thank him for his stances that support Hizbullah against some European and Arab attempts to list it as a terrorist group.
He thanked him in a telephone call for asking the European Union to refrain from placing the party on its list of terrorist organizations.
He added that the president took this measure “in spite of local and Arab efforts that claim to seek Lebanon's best internal interests.”
Berri also thanked some European countries that refused to list Hizbullah as a terrorist group “because they reject pleasing Israel at Lebanon's expense.”
The Presidency on Thursday announced that Mansour has been tasked to ask the EU to refrain from putting Hizbullah on its list of terrorist organizations.
EU foreign ministers are set to decide Monday whether or not to add the military wing of Hizbullah to its list of terrorist groups.
A meeting of EU ambassadors on Thursday broke up with no agreement on adding the powerful group to the list as "a small number of member states" remained opposed, said an EU diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity.
"Ministers will discuss the issue on Monday," said the source, referring to scheduled talks in Brussels between the bloc's 28 foreign ministers.
Unanimity is required to add the Lebanese group to the dozen people and score of groups currently subject to an EU asset freeze -- including Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and Colombia's FARC guerrillas.
almost 11 years
Iranian invaders have to leave Lebanon at any cost.
if they do not want to leave on their own, we will force them to leave.
we need to reclaim our country.
almost 11 years
Allahû Akbar! À coups de balais qu'on les virera.
Bon week-end à tous.
almost 11 years
Keep hope alive, NostraGeha and NostraBenzona. With loud-mouth warriors on the front lines of BS like you and based on past experiences with your warriorhood and tahwajet and marjalet fergha, you shall prove time and again that you shall become the invaders' best... well... umm... duh... collaborators? wa7ad shay ya fatfat. alla yer7amak ya bassel. ra2is 3a debbebeh esra2iliyeh ya watan. wlak ya 7ayeteh ana ma atyabkon ya m2ar2in w fosskon 7emeh.
almost 11 years
Don't worry Hassan. In my heart, you will always be the #1 terrorist.
You don't need to be on a list to earn my total respect.
Love, forever yours, AKHMED THE TERRORIST
almost 11 years
lololololol....oh thank you Mr. President says Berri. You have saved the image of our beloved scums.....for now. Who are you kidding....seriously! Terrorists, blood thirsty extortionists, Persian mafia are only a few names they go by!
almost 11 years
Lebpatriot.....cover yourself (avatar) before Hassan orders 100 lashes in public square followed by stoning! Sunni's will never follow blood-thirsty peasants!
almost 11 years
The President has little choice in asking, he has to pay Hizbullah a little lip service... after all the Iranian militia is the ring master of the this government circus.
almost 11 years
Don't listen to all those sirens! Crush Hzbotrallalla without listing it!
almost 11 years
iranpatriot, may God grant you some wisdom. Woman can not live on looks alone.
almost 11 years
Look how quickly Mansour acted on this request. Contrast that with the other request by the President to lodge complaint against Syria (he never executed that order)...... in any other country hw would have been fires a long time ago for insubordination and jailed for treasson.
Thank you speaker Barrri for your patriotic stand and support of our president. Our Islamic Secular Resistance aka HA ( Hussain's Army) have never engaged in "any" acts of terrorism, blackmail, drug-dealing, money laundering, kidnapping, embezzlement, or similar unethical practices. It's noble objectives are clear to all from Thailand to Qusayr; from Cyprus to Homs; from Beirut to Aleppo; from Argentina to Damascus.... Terrorism is relative. To the EU and its Israeli-Takfiri allies freedom fighters are "terrorists". Ask us the Lebanese.... "We" know the difference!