Aoun says to seek 'positive results' in sea border file
President Michel Aoun on Thursday stressed that he will seek “positive results” in the file of demarcating the maritime border with Israel, amid tensions sparked by the arrival of a gas production vessel in the Karish offshore field.
“The approach towards the file of the demarcation of the southern maritime border is based on preserving Lebanon’s interest as well as its rights to its water and land,” Aoun said in a Baabda meeting with the ambassadors of Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden.
“This file, which is part of international negotiations, is at the heart of the responsibilities of the president of the republic, according to Article 52 of the constitution,” Aoun added.
Stressing that he will seek “positive results” in the file, the President told the ambassadors that Lebanon will ask U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein to “resume his efforts to reactivate the indirect negotiations” between Lebanon and Israel.
“Lebanon wants through these negotiations to be able to utilize its oil and gas resources in the Lebanese waters and to preserve stability and security in the border area,” Aoun went on to say.
Responding to questions from the ambassadors, the President said “the democratic course will be continued in the coming days through parliamentary consultations to name a figure to form the new government.”
He added that the new government should “address the pressing issues, especially the economic situation, the recovery plan and the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, which are expected to provide loans for Lebanon to help it overcome the difficult circumstances that it is going through.”
Source: Naharnet
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