Aoun, Miqati want US mediation after Israel gas ship move
President Michel Aoun and Caretaker PM Najib Miqati agreed on Monday to invite U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein to visit Beirut in order to resume the stalled negotiations over the maritime demarcation with Israel, the Presidency said.
The two leaders agreed that the demarcation must be completed "as soon as possible in order to avoid any escalation," after a gas drilling ship had entered a disputed sea area, sparking Lebanese condemnation.
Aoun and Miqati also decided to make diplomatic calls with the major world powers and the United Nations to explain Lebanon's adherence to its rights and maritime resources.
"Any gas drilling carried out by Israel in a disputed area is considered a provocative and hostile activity, threatening peace and obstructing the demarcation negotiations led by the U.S.," the statement said.
After the Presidency's statement, Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab contacted Hochstein to schedule a visit, media reports said.
06 June 2022, 19:10
00
So now you want the US mediator to return. Fine, TELL HIM and at the same time tell him that the Lebanese government wants to sit down face to face non-stop and solve the problem as soon as possible.
The sooner it is solved, the sooner the Lebanese side can start their woen explorations for discovery and use of the natural gas field, for the benefit of the economy.
The main problem for the Lebanese will not be Israel, not Hizballah who are completely opposed to any negociations with Israel, whether or not it is for the advantage of Lebanon itself..
07 June 2022, 16:28
00
Israel never once blew off negociation sessions, it was always Lebanon which kept on deferring arranged meetings, as the meetings were all scheduled to take place at Nakura on the Lebanese side of the border.
But let us now forget the past and have the Lebanese government state to the US negotiator that Lebanon is now ready to sit down and discuss NON-STOP until a solution to the problem is sorted out.
