EU unlikely to blacklist Hezbollah despite accusations over 2012 Bulgaria bombing

BEIRUT: Chances are slim that the European Union will imminently blacklist Hezbollah as a terror organization after a probe accused the party of involvement in a 2012 deadly bus bombing in Bulgaria, European diplomatic sources and analysts said Wednesday.

“Placing Hezbollah on the EU’s terror list will eventually be explored after the results of the Bulgarian investigation are carefully scrutinized,” a European diplomatic source told The Daily Star, speaking on condition of anonymity. “However,” the source confided, “several EU member states view such a measure as imprudent as it cuts off all future routes of dialogue.”

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton was also vague about Bulgaria’s Tuesday announcement of the alleged involvement of two Hezbollah members in the July 2012 bus bombing at Bulgaria’s Burgas Airport, near the Black Sea, that killed five Israelis and wounded 30.

While Ashton underscored the “need for a reflection over the outcome of the investigation,” in order for EU member states to discuss “the appropriate response based on all elements identified by investigators,” the United States, Canada and Israel reiterated calls for the EU to label Hezbollah a “terrorist” organization.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2013/Feb-07/205399-eu-unlikely-to-blacklist-hezbollah-despite-accusat.ashx#ixzz2KERn8ELk