Paris May Label Hizbullah as Terrorist Group in Light of Findings of Burgas Attack Investigation
France does not rule out the possibility of labeling Hizbullah as a terrorist organization in light of Bulgaria's accusation against it of being involved in the 2012 Burgas bus attack, reported An Nahar daily Saturday.
French Foreign Ministry Spokesman Philippe Lalliot said that the European Union may discuss this issue should one of the EU ministers make such a proposal, said the daily.
The issue is not on the EU's agenda, but it could be addressed should the Bulgarian foreign minister, for example, suggest it, explained the spokesman.
Lalliot stressed that France condemns terrorist attacks, but criticized Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov latest press conference for failing to present any tangible evidence of the party's involvement in the bus attack.
Paris is awaiting the results of the investigations, said the French official.
Given tangible evidence, then the EU may unanimously label Hizbullah as a terrorist organization, he added.
Meanwhile, European diplomatic sources told al-Joumhouria daily Saturday that EU ministers will discuss during a meeting in Brussels on Monday the position to be taken over Hizbullah given the Bulgarian accusations.
Monday's discussions may study the possibility of labeling Hizbullah as a terrorist organization, imposing sanctions on some of its members, or not taking any action and keeping the situation as it is at the moment, said the sources.
The ministers are expected to receive a report on the evidence gathered over the party's involvement in the Burgas attack.
Tsvetanov had announced on Friday that Canada and Australia had provided Bulgaria with information that allowed it to verify that Hizbullah had funded the attack that targeted Israeli tourists.
Five Israeli tourists and their Bulgarian driver were killed in a bus bombing at Burgas airport on the Black Sea in July, the deadliest attack on Israelis abroad since 2004.
Bulgaria recently formally blamed the attack on Hizbullah, triggering renewed pressure on the European Union to follow Canada, the United States and others in formally designating the movement a “terrorist group.”
The Bulgarian government said two people behind the attack held Canadian and Australian passports, but lived in Lebanon and were members of Hizbullah.
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