Israel Matzav

Bulgaria won't push for EU sanctions on Hezbullah

In a concession to opposition groups who fear reprisals, Bulgaria's new Prime Minister said on Saturday that his country will not push the European Union for sanctions against Hezbullah. It was a terror attack on Bulgarian soil that led to the calls for sanctions against Hezbullah in the first place.

Marin Raikov did not give a reason for his decision - but it will likely be seen as a concession to Bulgarian opposition groups, who have argued the country could open itself up to more attacks if it takes the lead in blacklisting Hezbollah.

Raikov, a career diplomat, took over at the head of a technocrat administration on Wednesday after mass protests against poverty and corruption by opposition groups and other activists brought down Bulgaria's center-right government.

He was appointed by the president to maintain market confidence and placate protesters before an election on May 12.

Opposition leaders had also used the protests to denounce what they saw as irresponsible government accusations that Hezbollah was behind last year's bombing that killed five Israelis in the Black Sea resort of Burgas.

"Bulgaria will not initiate a procedure (for listing Hezbollah as a 'terrorist organization')," Raikov told the state BNR radio station. "We will only present the objective facts and circumstances and let our European partners decide."

 I suppose it would be too much to expect interim technocrats to have any courage. Europe continues to weasel....

Labels: Bulgaria, European Union, Hezbullah, Islamic terrorism

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:38 PM