Hochstein meets Lebanese leaders before heading to Naqoura

U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein met Thursday in Baabda with President Michel Aoun, in the presence of Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab and Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib.

"I truly believe and hope this can be an economic turning point in Lebanon for a new era of investment and continued support to lift up the economy," Hochstein said, before leaving Baabda to the Grand Serail where he met with Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati.

"This agreement was written with the idea in mind that it was between two countries that don’t have diplomatic relations," Hochstein told reporters at the Baabda Presidential Palace. "I think the good will and good faith efforts by all parties is what’s going to make this move forward."

The U.S. mediator also meet with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, before travelling to Naqoura to take the final steps that will bring Israel and Lebanon's maritime boundary agreement into force.

Hochstein will "extend his gratitude to each (of the three leaders) for the consultative and open spirit demonstrated throughout the negotiations, the foundations of which were created under Speaker Berri’s leadership by the 2020 Framework,” the U.S. State Department had earlier said in a statement.

Aoun received from Hochstein the official text of the final deal. He signed it and handed it to the Lebanese delegation that will officially submit it to Hoschtein at the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon in the border town of Naqoura.

Also in Naqoura, the Lebanese Foreign ministry will submit the maritime coordinates to the United Nations special coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka.

Hochstein will then travel to Israel where he will meet with Prime Minister Yair Lapi.

"The agreement... will take the form of two exchanges of letters, one between Lebanon and the United States, and one between Israel and the United States," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the U.N. Secretary General.