...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
has adopted a legal framework for targeted restrictive measures against Leb
...an Iranian colony situated on the eastern Mediterranean, conveniently adjacent to Israel. Formerly inhabited by hardy Phoenecian traders, its official language is now Arabic, with the usual unpleasant side effects. The Leb civil war, between 1975 and 1990, lasted a little over 145 years and produced 120,000 fatalities. The average length of a ceasefire was measured in seconds. The Lebs maintain a precarious sectarian balance among Shiites, Sunnis, and about a dozeen flavors of Christians. It is the home of Hezbollah, which periodically starts a war with the Zionist Entity, gets Beirut pounded to rubble, and then declares victory and has a parade. The Lebs have the curious habit of periodically murdering their heads of state or prime ministers, a practice dating back to the heady human sacrifice days of Baal Moloch. In 2020 Hezbollahblew up a considerable portion of Beirut and many of its inhabitants when its ammonium nitrate faci8lity exploded. They blamed it on... somebody else. It wasn't them though. Trust them on that..., which has already been grappling with an economic crisis and a political turmoil amid Western interference in the country’s domestic affairs. In a statement released on Friday, the European Council, the EU's agenda-setting body, said the framework provides for the possibility of imposing sanctions against individuals and entities that it deems responsible for "undermining democracy or the rule of law in Lebanon."
The sanctions consist of a travel ban to the EU as well as an asset freeze for persons and entities, the statement read, adding that EU persons and entities are forbidden from making funds available to those listed.
The sanctions regime sets out three criteria under which people may be targeted by the 27-nation bloc, including the obstruction of the democratic political process in Lebanon, the undermining of reforms in governance and the financial sector, and serious financial misconduct concerning public funds.
"Despite repeated calls on Lebanese political forces and stakeholders to act in the national interest and to no longer delay the formation of a fully empowered government capable of meeting the country’s urgent needs and implementing critical reforms, there is no progress. Meanwhile,
...back at the shootout, Butch clutched at his shoulder.
Ow!he exclaimed, with feeling......
the economic, social and humanitarian situation in Lebanon continues to tank and the people continue to suffer," the statement read.
"It is, however, of the utmost importance that the Lebanese leadership put aside their differences and work together to form a government and enact the measures required to steer the country towards a sustainable recovery."
The EU diplomats have said targets are not likely to be decided before the end of the summer.
Earlier this month, the EU had said that the bans would not be immediately implemented.