(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA))
BRUSSELS, May 10 (KUNA) -- European Union High Representative Josep Borrell Monday warned that the situation in Lebanon is deteriorating and the country is collapsing.
"In Lebanon the situation continues deteriorating, the country is collapsing, its people are suffering. But the political leaders are not taking responsibility while the country is literally falling apart," he told an online press conference in Brussels after a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers this evening.
Borrell said he spoke with Lebanese Foreign Minister Charbel Wehbe yesterday to prepare the discussion on Lebanon by the EU ministers today.
"I expressed my concern, and we are working on an approach that combines say ''carrots and sticks''. All options are being examined, and the purpose is to pressure the Lebanese leaders individually that are preventing the country from overcoming the dramatic impasse it is facing," he said.
"The Lebanese Minister explained to me the difficulties they are facing, inviting me to visit Lebanon and to have a conversation about these difficulties and the ways to overcome them," he added.
Meanwhile, Borrell said he briefed the EU foreign ministers about the ongoing negotiations on the Iran nuclear deal in Vienna.
"This remains an extremely delicate and intense diplomatic process. I dare to say that I am optimistic, there is a window of opportunity that will stay open for a couple of weeks until the end of the month but a lot of work is needed, time is limited and I hope that the negotiations will enter in a phase of non-stop negotiation in Vienna," he clarified. (end)
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