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To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on the proscription of Hezbollah.
[148910]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on the proscription of Hezbollah.
[148910]
It remains our view that it is imperative that the EU takes robust action in response to the terrorist attack carried out in Bulgaria by members of Hezbollah's military wing on European soil. We are engaged in discussions with EU partners on designation of Hezbollah's military wing under the EU's terrorist asset freezing regime.
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), also discussed the issue of Hezbollah and EU designation with both Prime Minister Mikati and President Sleiman during his recent visit to Beirut. They agreed on the importance of Lebanon's full cooperation with the Bulgarian investigation into the bombing, and the Secretary of State made clear that the UK does not believe that designation would affect EU relations with Lebanon or Lebanon's stability.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the most recent statements of Hezbollah's Deputy Secretary General, Sheikh Neim Qassem, on the relationship between the military and political wings of Hezbollah.
[148789]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the most recent statements of Hezbollah's Deputy Secretary General, Sheikh Neim Qassem, on the relationship between the military and political wings of Hezbollah.
[148789]
We are aware of statements by Hezbollah's Deputy Secretary General, Sheikh Neim Qassem. It remains our assessment that, under the overall leadership of Hezbollah Secretary-General Nasrallah, there is an organisational distinction to be made between Hezbollah's political and military wings.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of (a) fundraising and (b) recruitment by Herzbollah in the (i) UK and (ii) EU.
[148781]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of (a) fundraising and (b) recruitment by Herzbollah in the (i) UK and (ii) EU.
[148781]
I cannot comment on intelligence assessments.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to proscribe Hezbollah.
[148788]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to proscribe Hezbollah.
[148788]
The UK proscribed Hezbollah's External Security Organisation in 2001. In 2008 the proscription was extended to include the whole of Hezbollah's military apparatus, namely the Jihad Council and all the units reporting to it.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of recent reports that Bulgaria has identified Hezbollah as involved in the Burgas terror attack.
[148974]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of recent reports that Bulgaria has identified Hezbollah as involved in the Burgas terror attack.
[148974]
We welcomed the Bulgarian statement on the outcome of their investigation into the Bourgas bomb attack attributing responsibility to Hizballah military wing. This is an assessment that the UK. shares. As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), said in response to this statement:
“it is important that the EU responds robustly to an attack on European soil. Based on our national proscription, we believe that similar action by the EU against the military wing of Hezbollah would be an appropriate response and we continue to engage with our EU partners on this issue.”
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of weapons transfers to Hezbollah from Syria.
[148975]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of weapons transfers to Hezbollah from Syria.
[148975]
We are concerned by continued reports of transfers of conventional weapons from Syria and Iran to Hizballah in Lebanon, including Hizballah's own claims that it possesses significant military capabilities. Any such transfers would be in violation of Security Council resolution 1701 and would pose a threat to Lebanese and regional stability.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on adding Hezbollah to the EU's list of recognised terrorist organisations.
[148976]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on adding Hezbollah to the EU's list of recognised terrorist organisations.
[148976]
Based on our national proscription, the British Government has continuously maintained that the EU must act collectively in response to Hizballah's terrorist activity. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), continues to have regular contact with his EU counterparts on this issue, as does the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May).
On 18 February, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister told European Union Foreign Ministers that the Bulgarian Government took it as a justified assumption that two members of Hezbollah’s military wing had been involved in the terrorist attack in Burgas last July. Since then we have received representations from the United States and Israel about Hezbollah’s activity, and we have called on our European partners to respond robustly to terrorist actions on European soil.
On 18 February, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister told European Union Foreign Ministers that the Bulgarian Government took it as a justified assumption that two members of Hezbollah’s military wing had been involved in the terrorist attack in Burgas last July. Since then we have received representations from the United States and Israel about Hezbollah’s activity, and we have called on our European partners to respond robustly to terrorist actions on European soil.
On 18 February, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister told European Union Foreign Ministers that the Bulgarian Government took it as a justified assumption that two members of Hezbollah’s military wing had been involved in the terrorist attack in Burgas last July. Since then we have received representations from the United States and Israel about Hezbollah’s activity, and we have called on our European partners to respond robustly to terrorist actions on European soil.
I warmly welcome what the Foreign Secretary has said. This was a terrorist attack which cost the lives of six people, tourists innocently going about their business. Is it not high time the European Union acted against Hezbollah and banned it in its entirety? Otherwise, will not the EU be left looking a little bit casual, if not shoddy, in its approach to terrorism?
I warmly welcome what the Foreign Secretary has said. This was a terrorist attack which cost the lives of six people, tourists innocently going about their business. Is it not high time the European Union acted against Hezbollah and banned it in its entirety? Otherwise, will not the EU be left looking a little bit casual, if not shoddy, in its approach to terrorism?
As my hon. Friend knows, we are clear about this. The United Kingdom proscribed Hezbollah’s external security organisation back in 2001, and extended that proscription to the military wing in 2008. We are now discussing the issue in the European Union, and we would like to see the EU follow what we have done. We are engaged in active discussion with EU countries. Some are supportive of this, some are awaiting evidence from Bulgaria before making a decision, and some have other concerns. We are seeking to persuade them that those concerns are not warranted, and that the European Union should take a decisive position.
As my hon. Friend knows, we are clear about this. The United Kingdom proscribed Hezbollah’s external security organisation back in 2001, and extended that proscription to the military wing in 2008. We are now discussing the issue in the European Union, and we would like to see the EU follow what we have done. We are engaged in active discussion with EU countries. Some are supportive of this, some are awaiting evidence from Bulgaria before making a decision, and some have other concerns. We are seeking to persuade them that those concerns are not warranted, and that the European Union should take a decisive position.
As my hon. Friend knows, we are clear about this. The United Kingdom proscribed Hezbollah’s external security organisation back in 2001, and extended that proscription to the military wing in 2008. We are now discussing the issue in the European Union, and we would like to see the EU follow what we have done. We are engaged in active discussion with EU countries. Some are supportive of this, some are awaiting evidence from Bulgaria before making a decision, and some have other concerns. We are seeking to persuade them that those concerns are not warranted, and that the European Union should take a decisive position.
I warmly welcome what the Foreign Secretary has said. This was a terrorist attack which cost the lives of six people, tourists innocently going about their business. Is it not high time the European Union acted against Hezbollah and banned it in its entirety? Otherwise, will not the EU be left looking a little bit casual, if not shoddy, in its approach to terrorism?
As the hon. Lady will gather, that is what we are discussing in the European Union. My Bulgarian colleague briefed us on the matter at the last meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, and we are now having the discussions that I just described. As I say, some countries wish to look at the evidence in more detail, and some have other concerns about the impact on relations with Lebanon. However, I made it clear on my recent visit to Lebanon that we supported the Lebanese authorities’ statement that they would co-operate fully with the investigation and that there is no need for any decision we make about Hezbollah to have a damaging impact on Lebanon’s stability.
As the hon. Lady will gather, that is what we are discussing in the European Union. My Bulgarian colleague briefed us on the matter at the last meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, and we are now having the discussions that I just described. As I say, some countries wish to look at the evidence in more detail, and some have other concerns about the impact on relations with Lebanon. However, I made it clear on my recent visit to Lebanon that we supported the Lebanese authorities’ statement that they would co-operate fully with the investigation and that there is no need for any decision we make about Hezbollah to have a damaging impact on Lebanon’s stability.
The recent murder of Israeli tourists, together with a Bulgarian national, in Bulgaria is just the latest in a string of terrorist attacks by Hezbollah, from Argentina in 1994 to Cyprus and Turkey in 2011. Just what will it take for Europe to act against this terrorist organisation?
Hezbollah makes no distinction between its military activities and its political activities, so why does the EU feel the need to make such a distinction before it reaches a view about sanctions against Hezbollah?
Hezbollah makes no distinction between its military activities and its political activities, so why does the EU feel the need to make such a distinction before it reaches a view about sanctions against Hezbollah?
The United Kingdom made that distinction and we believe that those wings are organisationally distinct, even if they both come under the same overall leadership. It is important to recognise that Hezbollah’s political wing is and will remain an important part of Lebanon’s political scene, and we have to be able to act in the interests of the stability of Lebanon. We do not believe that an EU consensus could be arrived at on the designation of the whole of Hezbollah.
The United Kingdom made that distinction and we believe that those wings are organisationally distinct, even if they both come under the same overall leadership. It is important to recognise that Hezbollah’s political wing is and will remain an important part of Lebanon’s political scene, and we have to be able to act in the interests of the stability of Lebanon. We do not believe that an EU consensus could be arrived at on the designation of the whole of Hezbollah.
The United Kingdom made that distinction and we believe that those wings are organisationally distinct, even if they both come under the same overall leadership. It is important to recognise that Hezbollah’s political wing is and will remain an important part of Lebanon’s political scene, and we have to be able to act in the interests of the stability of Lebanon. We do not believe that an EU consensus could be arrived at on the designation of the whole of Hezbollah.
Hezbollah makes no distinction between its military activities and its political activities, so why does the EU feel the need to make such a distinction before it reaches a view about sanctions against Hezbollah?
I have listened carefully to the answers offered by the Foreign Secretary, and on this matter I sense that there is genuine cross-party agreement across the House. He says that active discussions are under way with European partners on the proscription of Hezbollah’s military wing, but that some countries are looking at further evidence. Given the terms of the report published by the Bulgarians on 5 February and the discussions that the Bulgarian Minister has had with other European colleagues, will the Foreign Secretary tell the House what further discussions he is going to have, particularly with the French and with others? What assurance would they need in order to be able to match the action that, with our support, the British Government have taken?
I have listened carefully to the answers offered by the Foreign Secretary, and on this matter I sense that there is genuine cross-party agreement across the House. He says that active discussions are under way with European partners on the proscription of Hezbollah’s military wing, but that some countries are looking at further evidence. Given the terms of the report published by the Bulgarians on 5 February and the discussions that the Bulgarian Minister has had with other European colleagues, will the Foreign Secretary tell the House what further discussions he is going to have, particularly with the French and with others? What assurance would they need in order to be able to match the action that, with our support, the British Government have taken?
Of course, we are in active discussion with other European partners, including France. As I say, some are immediately supportive of designation, as we are, but some want to look in more detail at the evidence, although plenty of evidence is available. Some have concerns about the impact on the stability of Lebanon—concerns that I think are unfounded—on EU relations with Lebanon or on European troops serving in the UN mission in southern Lebanon, the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon. So there are a variety of reasons for this, which I do not agree with, and it is clear that the right hon. Gentleman does not agree with them either. I shall, thus, quote the strong cross-party support in this House in the Government’s further discussions about this issue.
Of course, we are in active discussion with other European partners, including France. As I say, some are immediately supportive of designation, as we are, but some want to look in more detail at the evidence, although plenty of evidence is available. Some have concerns about the impact on the stability of Lebanon—concerns that I think are unfounded—on EU relations with Lebanon or on European troops serving in the UN mission in southern Lebanon, the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon. So there are a variety of reasons for this, which I do not agree with, and it is clear that the right hon. Gentleman does not agree with them either. I shall, thus, quote the strong cross-party support in this House in the Government’s further discussions about this issue.
Of course, we are in active discussion with other European partners, including France. As I say, some are immediately supportive of designation, as we are, but some want to look in more detail at the evidence, although plenty of evidence is available. Some have concerns about the impact on the stability of Lebanon—concerns that I think are unfounded—on EU relations with Lebanon or on European troops serving in the UN mission in southern Lebanon, the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon. So there are a variety of reasons for this, which I do not agree with, and it is clear that the right hon. Gentleman does not agree with them either. I shall, thus, quote the strong cross-party support in this House in the Government’s further discussions about this issue.
I have listened carefully to the answers offered by the Foreign Secretary, and on this matter I sense that there is genuine cross-party agreement across the House. He says that active discussions are under way with European partners on the proscription of Hezbollah’s military wing, but that some countries are looking at further evidence. Given the terms of the report published by the Bulgarians on 5 February and the discussions that the Bulgarian Minister has had with other European colleagues, will the Foreign Secretary tell the House what further discussions he is going to have, particularly with the French and with others? What assurance would they need in order to be able to match the action that, with our support, the British Government have taken?
The recent murder of Israeli tourists, together with a Bulgarian national, in Bulgaria is just the latest in a string of terrorist attacks by Hezbollah, from Argentina in 1994 to Cyprus and Turkey in 2011. Just what will it take for Europe to act against this terrorist organisation?
The recent murder of Israeli tourists, together with a Bulgarian national, in Bulgaria is just the latest in a string of terrorist attacks by Hezbollah, from Argentina in 1994 to Cyprus and Turkey in 2011. Just what will it take for Europe to act against this terrorist organisation?
As the hon. Lady will gather, that is what we are discussing in the European Union. My Bulgarian colleague briefed us on the matter at the last meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, and we are now having the discussions that I just described. As I say, some countries wish to look at the evidence in more detail, and some have other concerns about the impact on relations with Lebanon. However, I made it clear on my recent visit to Lebanon that we supported the Lebanese authorities’ statement that they would co-operate fully with the investigation and that there is no need for any decision we make about Hezbollah to have a damaging impact on Lebanon’s stability.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of a recent report by the Bulgarian authorities which concluded that Hezbollah was responsible for the terrorist attack in Burgas in 2012, they will encourage the European Union to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation.[HL5332]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of a recent report by the Bulgarian authorities which concluded that Hezbollah was responsible for the terrorist attack in Burgas in 2012, they will encourage the European Union to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation.[HL5332]
The official Bulgarian investigation into the Burgas bus bombing on 18 July 2012 has implicated individuals from Hezbollah's military wing. This is an assessment that the UK shares. The EU must now collectively decide how to respond. Based on our national proscription, we believe there is a strong case for EU designation of the military wing of Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation. We are actively discussing this with our EU partners.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Hezbollah's involvement in the Burgas terror attack.
[141204]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Hezbollah's involvement in the Burgas terror attack.
[141204]
We remain deeply concerned by indications that Hezbollah was involved in the terrorist attack in Burgas. Once the official Bulgarian investigation has concluded, the EU will need to decide how to respond. Based on our national proscription, we believe there is a strong case for action against the military wing of Hezbollah. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), is in discussions with his EU counterparts on this issue as is the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May).