Brussels, 18/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - The treatment to be reserved for the Lebanese fundamentalist movement, the Hezbollah, was discussed on Wednesday within the EU Council - security specialist Member State experts and diplomats - particularly after Israeli's formal request to include it on the Union's list of terrorist organisations (EUROPE of 12 February, p.5). The debate has not come to any conclusion, authorised sources assure at the Council. The European stance, the same source stresses, remains unchanged, namely that examination of this case must take into account the fact that the Hezbollah is also a political movement represented at the Lebanese parliament. This would in no way prejudge the position finally taken, but it is “certainly not today that one can decide” on the matter as one must avoid making the complex situation in the region still more difficult, a situation that is marked by attempts to revive the still fragile peace process. It was stressed that this opinion is not only that of France but is said to be shared by several other countries, without wishing to give details on the position of the different Member States.
On the situation in Lebanon, Javier Solana's services again express the wish that no State be involved in the assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafic Hariri (EUROPE of 15 February, p.5). Data collection is apparently underway in liaison with the security services of Member States.
In an interview with the Associated Press after the assassination of Rafic Hariri, Javier Solana had commented: “It has been a tremendous blow. I had a very good friendship with Mr Hariri. (…) he did a lot for his country and he would continue to do a lot of good for his country. But apparently somebody didn't want that to happen”. Regarding an international inquiry into the bomb attack, Solana noted that the Security Council is to discuss the matter, adding: “I think it would be a good idea”. When asked about the role of Syria, Javier Solana said: “I hope very much that no country, no state has been involved in that terrible criminal act”.