EU leaders break deadlock to impose sanctions on Belarus

EU leaders broke a diplomatic deadlock on Friday and imposed sanctions on Belarus after hours of summit talks, assuring Cyprus that the bloc would also punish Turkey if it continues oil and gas drilling in disputed areas of the Mediterranean. The deal on sanctions against about 40 officials accused of rigging August's presidential election in Belarus means the EU can make good on a promise to support pro-democracy protesters in Minsk and regain some credibility after weeks of delays. "The European Union is taking action against those who stand in the way of democracy," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after fraught discussions among the 27 EU member states that dragged past midnight.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2SfqwXF