Jaber Says US Renders 'Invalid' Draft 'Sanctions' Against Lebanon

The Lebanese parliamentary delegation in Washington assured that new US financial sanctions against Lebanon will not be imposed, pointing out that reports about the matter were inaccurate “leaks,” al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.

“Everyone is talking as if there are new US sanctions against Lebanon, which is a big fallacy because it has not happened yet," a member of the delegation MP Yassin Jaber told the daily.

The MP clarified saying: “A committee in the US Congress was putting draft ideas that were leaked out and caused agitation in Lebanon. During our meeting with the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives we were told to forget about the leaked draft, and that it caused damage to those who prepared and leaked it. It became invalid they said.”

Yassin added: “Some lawmakers in Congress tend to prepare a bill that introduces some amendments to the Penal Code issued in 2015.

“We have demanded that Lebanon's interest be taken into consideration as it faces the challenges of fighting terrorism and the displaced Syrians. Lebanon faces a complicated financial and economic situation and can no more tolerate any further pressure. There is a penal code already in effect, therefore there is no need for a new law that creates confusion,” stated Jaber.

The MP assured that US officials have listened attentively to what the Lebanese delegation had to state, “we hope what we said will help in easing enthusiasm for imposing a new law.”

In light of concerns that the US administration might impose new financial sanctions against Lebanon, the parliamentary delegation began a visit to Washington last week to ward off the threat.

The delegation is comprised of MPs Jaber and Mohammed Qabbani, media adviser to the Speaker Ali Hamdan and Lebanon's ambassador to Washington Antoine Shedid.

The delegation held talks with congressmen, senators, deputies and figures of the US administration.

In April, media reports said the United States House of Representatives was mulling a bill to impose tough new financial sanctions against Hizbullah and figures or institutions doing business with the party.