EU FMs discuss blacklisting Hezbollah

European Union foreign ministers began a meeting here on Monday to discuss whether to include the military wing of the Lebanese Hezbollah as a terrorist group. "There are growing concerns about the role of Hezbollah. You have seen the reports on Syria and today I have put forward a proposal and we would see what the member states come out with. It is for them to decide on the basis of my proposal," EU High Representative Catherine Ashton told reporters ahead of the meeting. On his part, Antanas Linkevicius, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, whose country holds the current EU Presidency, said "I believe there will be very important discussions in order to define and list the military wing of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. We will support that view but we will need definitely consensus among all states involved." The EU Foreign Affair Council, chaired by Ashton, will also discuss developments in Syria, Egypt and Palestine. "We want Egypt to go back to the path of democracy. You can't build a democracy in five minutes. We are willing to help in any way possible," said Ashton. On his part, Linkevicius said on Egypt that, "I do not believe military force is the way to remove governments, this is not acceptable nor legitimate, now they should get back as soon as possible to the democratic process, elections, elected government and elected leadership. This is a must for this society and also for the overall situation in the region."