Nelson pressing to put Hezbollah on EU terror list

Media Release

August 3, 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bill Nelson wants to further cripple Hezbollah by cutting off the terrorist group’s access to Europe’s banks and financial institutions.

Nelson, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is asking his 99 Senate colleagues to sign a letter seeking to get Hezbollah placed on the European Union’s list of terrorist organizations. So far, 70 have responded positively. If Nelson and other lawmakers are successful, Hezbollah would be denied use of the EU’s financial system.

More specifically, Nelson is asking senators to cosign a letter he’s written with Senator Gordon Smith, a Republican from Oregon, to EU High Representative Javier Solana, calling on the EU to place Hezbollah on its list of terrorist organizations.

“Hezbollah is a vicious terrorist organization that targets innocent civilians with every attack,” Nelson said today. “The current conflict should convince everyone of that.”

To view Sen. Nelson's letters, please visit: http://www.billnelson.senate.gov/supporting/Hezbollahltrs.pdf

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