Lebanese President Michel Aoun referred in an interview published this morning (Saturday) in the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar to the US mediator's visit on the issue of drawing maritime borders with Israel - and noted that he is optimistic about reaching a conclusion on the issue.
However, he seems to have admitted that the Lebanese have hardened their stance, in order to achieve the original route of the line to which they aspired.
"Everything that revolves around the negotiations should remain confidential until we reach the end of the talks," the Lebanese president stressed. However, he added: "We do not have a deadline for a response.
When (the mediator) Amos Hochstein returns to Lebanon after his visit to Israel, we will have a ready answer.
There are points that still need to be learned. "
Israel and Lebanon are indirectly negotiating the demarcation of the maritime border between them, with each country drawing the line so that it includes more territory on its side. The land border, which forms a triangle in an area of about 850 square kilometers that is in dispute.
Photo: AFP // Michelle Aoun,
In an interview with Al-Akhbar, the president revealed that the Lebanese position regarding the drawing of the line along the route known as "Point 29", which was presented in previous rounds of talks, was a line for negotiations. Point 23 ".
"The Lebanese position is clear," Aoun said.
“Point 29 was a line of negotiation and not a maritime border line.
Several sources have suggested this line.
There is a framework of negotiations that was previously put in place by the Speaker of Parliament, Nabiya Berry, and we will act within it.
We set point 23 as the maritime border.
Not as a waiver but as our true and practical right.
This is the line we are sticking to.
An agreement must be reached that satisfies both parties.
I think there is hope for reaching a result.
We have a gas and oil field that overlaps with Israel and is currently being negotiated.
According to the Lebanese president, "Upon reaching a conclusion on the matter, we will sit at the negotiating table in Nakura (where the mediation talks are taking place).
There is no going back there until we finish the rest of the controversy.
But the main and first table for negotiations is here at the presidential palace in Abda. The president is the one who is conducting the negotiations and then going to close it with the government and the parliament.
Which does not preclude updating other senior officials in the negotiation stages.
"We have moved forward because Israel and we are in a hurry," the Lebanese president said.
"The Americans are also eager to complete the agreement. Both sides need to draw a maritime border to start working. Our need is twofold because we did not start as Israel did with its gas and oil."
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