Britain to restore links with Hezbollah in Lebanon (Roundup)

Mar 5, 2009, 18:28 GMT

London - The British government is re-establishing contacts with the political wing of the militant group Hezbollah after 'positive political developments' in Lebanon, officials confirmed Thursday.

'We have reconsidered our position on no contact with Hezbollah, in place since 2005,' a spokesperson for the Foreign Office said.

'This is in light of more positive recent political developments in Lebanon, including the formation of the National Unity Government in which Hezbollah are participating,' the spokesperson said.

The move comes about 10 months after Hezbollah signed a unity accord in Lebanon and joined the government.

Britain was 'exploring certain contacts' at an official level with Hezbollah's political wing, including members of parliament, but would have no contacts with the movement's military wing, proscribed by the British government in July, 2008.

'Our objective with Hezbollah remains to encourage them to move away from violence and play a constructive, democratic and peaceful role in Lebanese politics, in line with a range of UN Security Council resolutions,' it said.

Hezbollah's political wing was part of a National Unity Government in Lebanon and Britain was 'doing all it can' to support that government.

Britain has had no official talks with Hezbollah since 2005.

But on January 9, Britain's ambassador in Beirut had attended a meeting of British parliamentarians with the Lebanese Foreign Affairs Committee, at which Ali Amar, a lawmaker from Hezbollah's political wing, had also been present, the Foreign Office said.

Confirmation of the policy change towards Hezbollah followed comments by Bill Rammell, the Foreign Office minister for the Middle East, to a parliamentary committee Wednesday.

Rammell told the parliamentarians that the government would authorize 'carefully selected' contacts with the political wing of Hezbollah.

The Guardian said Thursday that the move may be partially intended to encourage the new US administration to follow suit after several European governments had already resumed contacts with Hezbollah.

However, officials in London made clear Thursday that the decision would not create a precedent for talking to Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement in control of the Gaza Strip.