EU representative blames Lebanese officials for country’s ills

EU representative blames Lebanese officials for country’s ills

BEIRUT: Josep Borrell, the high representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security policy, has criticized Lebanese officials and conveyed a "severe“ message for "not forming the government after nine months of the resignation of Hassan Diab's government and nomination of Saad Hariri as prime minister-designate.“ Borrell, who is also vice president of the European Commission, said that "the Lebanese crisis is not related to surrounding conditions, nor to war in Syria, but to the political class, which bears responsibility.“ The European official's statement came after his meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Saturday at the Presidential Palace. It was the first of a set of meetings that will include the speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, and caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab. Before Borrell's arrival to Beirut, news spread that the EU intends to impose sanctions on Lebanese officials responsible for obstructing the formation of the government. The news was based on a proposal by France, which launched an initiative last September to quickly form a rescue government to stop financial collapse in the country. However, the initiative faced significant obstacles. Borrell stressed that the "crisis in Lebanon is locally made, and its impact