The government of Lithuania announced on Thursday the recognition of Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation, joining the UK, the U.S., Canada, Germany and the Netherlands in banning the terror group.
Lithuanias’s Foreign Minister Mr. Linas Linkevičius said in a statement: “Having taken into consideration the information acquired by our institutions and partners, we may conclude that ‘Hezbollah’ uses terrorist means that pose a threat to the security of a significant number of countries, including Lithuania. We stand together with the United States of America, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands, as well as other countries that had reached the same conclusion”.
The decision to ban Hezbollah-affiliated people from the country is valid for 10 years. It was made by Lithuania’s Migration Department based on information, provided at least in part by Israel, about Hezbollah operatives engaged in activities considered a “threat to Lithuanian national security interests”.
Mr Linkevičius added: “We appreciate the successful cooperation between the Lithuanian and Israeli national security agencies. We are thankful to these institutions for their significant work in helping ensure the safety of our citizens. It is important to note that we support peaceful people of Lebanon and their wish for their country to implement necessary reforms”.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi spoke a few moments later with his Lithuanian counterpart, congratulating him on the Lithuanian government’s decision.
The UK Government proscribed the Hezbollah terror group in full in February last year, citing its “destabilising activities in the region” and commitment to “armed resistance to the State of Israel”.
