Post by dgriffin on Jun 14, 2009 10:00:35 GMT -5
Aljazeera English
EU chief meets Hezbollah official
The meeting was part of an attempt by European members to reach out to Hezbollah
The European Union's foreign affairs chief has held unprecedented talks with a Hezbollah legislator in Beirut, the first ever meeting between a senior EU diplomat and a member of Hezbollah.
Javier Solana met with Hussein Hajj Hassan, a member of parliament, whose movement is considered a terrorist group by the United States and Israel.
The meeting was part of an attempt by European members to reach out to Hezbollah.
"Lists of terrorist groups are not the same in every country," Solana told a news conference when asked about the US blacklist of the group.
"Hezbollah is a member of the Lebanese society and it is represented in the Lebanese parliament and it will bear responsibilities," he said before leaving for Egypt at the end of a two-day visit to Lebanon.
Hajj Hassan told the AFP news agency that the meeting "means more EU overture towards Hezbollah, and one at a higher level."
"This also means better communication for the European Union with the region and its parties," he said, adding that the meeting will "move the EU towards more realism."
MORE at:
english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/2009613231029296462.html