By: Sammi Ibrahem,Sr
Source: Al-Akhbar Newspaper
After the specific sanctions on the environment of the resistance in Lebanon, the Americans moved to restrict the Lebanese in general, especially in European banks, in a manner similar to the measures that were imposed on the Syrians in the middle of 2011. At the same time, Washington threatened Lebanese officials with “accountability”, under the pretext of ” Anti-corruption ”, coinciding with“ unprecedented ”sanctions against companies in the pharmaceutical sector.
The Americans were not satisfied with the financial crisis triggered by Tbilisi, “Jamal Trust Bank” in Lebanon, due to the sanctions they imposed on it. On the contrary, they continue to renew and renew their sanctions in close periods of time, the last of which was yesterday against Lebanese entities and personalities, within the framework of the new siege war open against Lebanon after Syria and Iran, and many other countries of the world.
While the American focus was in the past on the close environment of Hezbollah, in an attempt to pay it the price of confrontation and isolate the resistance from its popular incubator, the American focus also began to expand to include all the Lebanese without exception, this time from the gateway of European banks.
For years, Lebanese people who own business between Europe and Lebanon or in Europe have been subjected to restrictions in regards to opening accounts and money transfers. The restrictions were usually restricted to Lebanese Shiites. In the past months, with the explosion of the financial and economic crisis in the country, a large number of Lebanese began to transfer their business abroad and seek to open bank accounts in more than one European country, the first of which is Cyprus, which is receiving the attention of the Lebanese these days, due to its geographical proximity. During this stage, more than one indicator emerged of the presence of auditing and harassment of the Lebanese with their various religious and political affiliations, and significant difficulties related to opening bank accounts, without showing where these restrictions could reach.
According to Al-Akhbar information, a clear American decision was directed at several European countries, for the Americans to have a great influence on them, and for central banks, to start dealing with Lebanese and Lebanese companies in a manner similar to the one that started dealing with the Syrians and Syrian companies in 2011. According to what banking sources say Knowing about the developments, a decision issued by the Cyprus Central Bank to restrict Lebanese companies that want to open accounts in the island on the understanding that these companies fall under the category of “high risks”, as well as with regard to old accounts and accounts that deal between Lebanon and Cyprus, Bo Set a ceiling for this deal.
Lebanese businessmen who have been active in Cyprus for years have stated that they have had difficulties opening new bank accounts for them. She also talked about the difficulties that the Lebanese faced in many European countries, such as France, Switzerland and Belgium, both with regard to personal accounts or those of their companies. The sources say that “these measures mean classifying Lebanon and the Lebanese in the same category in which the Syrians and the Iranians were classified before them,” saying that “Washington is preparing Lebanon for a higher level of sanctions.” A Lebanese investor in more than one European country in the tourism sector emphasized that “it is very difficult now for any Lebanese to open a bank account in Europe, even old accounts are being tracked,” adding that “European banks sometimes ask their country’s embassies in Beirut for information about people Those who ask to open accounts.
Penalties and threats
And yesterday, after the American Treasury announced a list of new sanctions against Lebanese institutions and citizens, the sanctions included this time institutions concerned with medicine and hospitalization. As the Americans did not stop at the old sanctions imposed on the “martyr establishment” close to Hezbollah, but yesterday they included its “Atlas Holding” group, then listed the subsidiaries of Atlas, among them the International Company for Medicines and Medical Equipment (Medicec) and “Shahid Farm” »City Pharma SAL and Sanoferra Farm, in addition to other companies and institutions concerned with tourism and trade, including Al-Amana Gas Company.
The US decision to punish companies operating in the pharmaceutical sector is considered to be an increase in the level of US sanctions against Lebanon. As Washington previously intentionally not imposed sanctions on medical, hospital, medical, and educational institutions, under “humanitarian” pretexts. Its decision yesterday has two dimensions: The first is political, and it means sending a “violent” message that indicates the extent to which Americans threaten to reach it.
The second, economical, is related to preventing Lebanese companies from resorting to alternative options from western options in trade, which can alleviate the economic burden on Lebanon. The decision takes on a clearer meaning with the threats made by two American officials to Lebanese politicians to impose sanctions on them under the pretext of “fighting corruption”, provided that these sanctions include figures from outside Hezbollah, and from “various sects, sects and political forces.”
At the joint press conference between the US Treasury and State Department, held in Washington yesterday, in the presence of US Assistant Secretary of Treasury Marshall Blingsley and US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker, he announced the sanctions, with a high level of threat.
Blingsley, known as the “bank thug” in Lebanon since the bankruptcy of “Jamal Trust Bank”, claimed that “the sanctions will not have an impact on the Lebanese access to medical supplies and medicines, but will have an impact on the decline in Hezbollah’s ability to smuggle drugs from places like Iran” And he violated Lebanese laws by distributing potentially harmful drugs. ” He accused Hezbollah of “trying to control the Lebanese economy in the same way that it tried to control politics in Lebanon.”
Schenker hints sanctions against politicians from outside Hezbollah, “from various sects, sects and political parties.”
He expected that “the Bank of Lebanon will engage in a more effective way to control the Lebanese banking system against Hezbollah,” stressing that “Washington relies on the Bank of Lebanon and its executive tools to ensure that all assets associated with the Amana Company and other classified companies have been permanently frozen.” In a clear threat to Lebanese officials under the title “fighting corruption”, Billingsley stressed that “the United States intends to hold political officials accountable if the situation continues as it is, and the Lebanese government must act quickly to address the concerns of the international community about the continuing corruption in Lebanon.”
As for Schenker, who was supposed to visit Lebanon months ago to follow up on the maritime border file with occupied Palestine, he continued his colleague’s attack, claiming that “Hezbollah is exploiting the banking system in Lebanon and we will hold them accountable for that.” Hezbollah is an organization that thrives and continues based on corruption. It is a listed terrorist organization and we will take the necessary measures to ensure that it is not able to raise funds and operate institutions freely on Lebanese territory or anywhere else in the world. ”
Schenker said, “Corruption and resistance to reform are not only the prerogative of Hezbollah, but there are other groups between the various sects, sects and political parties that oppose reform and have engaged in acts of corruption.” He added that “several reasons led to the current financial situation,” and “all of them are the result of Lebanese decisions.” It was taken by Lebanese politicians and the banking sector. ”
For its part, confirmed the former US ambassador in Beirut, Elizabeth Richard, on a farewell visit to the Baabda Palace, after a meeting with President Michel Aoun, that “Lebanon stands before a turning point.”
