Hizbullah, EU seek to activate 2002 trade pact

Source: Daily Star, 27-5-2006
BEIRUT: A senior European Union official met Friday with Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to discuss Lebanon`s plan for implementing the EU Association Agreement. In March of last year the European Parliament voted on a resolution branding Hizbullah a terrorist organization!!??
The resolution stated that the "Parliament considers that clear evidence exists of terrorist activities by Hizbullah. The (EU) Council should take all necessary steps to curtail them."
However many member states within the EU insist on distinguishing between Hizbullah as a political party with a broad program of social works, and Hizbullah as an organization responsible for numerous armed attacks.
In addition to its military wing, Hizbullah maintains a civilian arm, which runs hospitals, news services, educational facilities and executes numerous economic and infrastructural development projects in populated areas of Lebanon.
The five-year Action Plan proposed by Lebanon, which was discussed by Patrick Renauld, head of the delegation of the EC, and Nasrallah will be submitted to the European Union Council within the coming few days.
The plan lays down a framework for implementing the Association Agreement - signed four years ago between Lebanon and the EU - which is expected to boost bilateral trade, increase the access of Lebanese exports to Europe and strengthen institutional and political ties between the two sides.
The meeting between Renauld and Nasrallah comes "in the framework of a series of meetings with the Lebanese officials in relation to the Action Plan," an EU delegation said in a statement.
"Renauld means - through these talks - to salute the efforts of the Lebanese government for its commitment in the European Neighborhood Policy and to discuss with the Lebanese officials the importance of this Action Plan in the future of bilateral cooperation," the statement added.