Reports: Aoun, Miqati, Berri 'about to' unify position before Hochstein visit
President Michel Aoun, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Speaker Nabib Berri are leaning toward holding a meeting over the maritime border demarcation next week, al-Manar TV reported.
The outlet said Thursday it had learned that the meeting might take place at the end of next week to discuss the latest developments regarding the maritime border dispute with Israel, as Israel had moved a gas production vessel into a disputed offshore field, sparking Lebanese condemnation.
Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab had said Wednesday that the Lebanese position is "strong and unified." So did al-Akhbar newspaper as it said that Lebanon will not accept U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein's proposal -- which includes Line 23, possible amendments, and a part of Qana field.
"Lebanon will give Hochstein a unified answer. It will give its remarks in a clear agreed upon vision," the daily claimed. It added that Lebanon will not amend Decree 6433 to adopt Line 29 "in order to keep the negotiations open," as Hochstein had clearly stated that insisting on Line 29 and amending the Decree will end the negotiations.
The LBCI, for its part, had said that the negotiations will be between Line 1 and Line 23, and that Washington is not interested in discussing Line 29. It added that Aoun, Miqati and Berri are close to agreeing on a unified position, which will be negotiating Line 23 without fighting for Line 29.
"Lebanon may ask for Line 23 with an additional 80 Kilometers and a part of the Qana field," al-Akhbar sources said.
Hochstein had months ago advised the Lebanese, grappling with an unprecedented financial crisis, to focus on "what you gain" not "what you may lose."
While some media considered that the situation does not bode well for Lebanon, other have reported a reassurance message from Israel.
A media report said that U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Dorothy Shea, had conveyed to a number of officials and politicians, that Israel had no intention to escalate the dispute by moving the vessel into the disputed field.
Israel on Wednesday had urged Lebanon to speed up negotiations on its disputed maritime border ahead of an expected visit to Beirut by Hochstein.
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