Kosovo: Hezbollah a terrorist entity

The Republic of Kosovo has officially designated both Hezbollah’s military and political wings terrorist groups, Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Minister Meliza Haradinaj announced on Twitter on Tuesday.

A year ago, Kosovo designated Hezbollah’s military wing a terrorist group. But following a proposal by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the parliament decided to designate the political wing a terrorist entity as well.

“After [Foreign Affairs Ministry’s] proposal, #Kosovo Government decided to declare both the political & military wings of #Hezbollah, a terrorist organization in the territory of the Republic of Kosovo,” Haradinaj said in her Tuesday tweet. “This decision contributes to protect & advance national, regional & global security interests.”

The American Jewish Congress lauded the move.

“Hezbollah’s activities are a direct threat to peace and security, and Kosovo’s decision is an important step in the global fight against terrorism,” the AJC said. “The artificial differentiation between Hezbollah’s political and military wings has created openings for Hezbollah, a proxy of Iran, to continue to engage in its malignant activities in many countries around the world.

“We urge other countries to follow Kosovo’s example in treating the entirety of Hezbollah as a terrorist entity and banning all its activities.”

Kosovo joins more than a dozen countries and groups of nations – including Israel, the US, the UK, Germany, France, the Arab League and the EU– that have designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization.