Lebanon: Aoun presents new proposal to Hochstein, stresses sovereignty
Lebanese President Michel Aoun receives the US mediator in the indirect negotiations to demarcate the southern maritime border, Amos Hochstein, and informs him of Lebanon's official position on the demarcation.
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Lebanon: Aoun presents new proposal to Hochstein
On Tuesday, the Lebanese President Michel Aoun received the US mediator Amos Hochstein as part of the indirect negotiations to demarcate the southern maritime border.
The meeting took place in the presence of the US Ambassador to Beirut Dorothy Shea.
According to Al Mayadeen correspondent, Aoun informed Hochstein of Lebanon's official position regarding the demarcation of the maritime borders and stressed Lebanon's sovereign rights to water and natural resources.
Our correspondent pointed out that according to the information, Lebanon will demand the preservation of the entire Qana field, and thus adherence to all the oil wealth, even beyond the 23rd line, meaning the entire Qana field is within the exclusive economic zone of Lebanon and rejecting the line previously drawn up by Hochstein in February, cutting off parts of Block no. 8.
Our correspondent stated that "the Lebanese President responded orally to Hochstein's previous offer and presented a new proposal," adding that "President Aoun requested prompt answers through Hochstein from the other side, that is, from Tel Aviv."
Additionally, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati met with the American mediator in the presence of the American Ambassador, where Hochstein was informed of the unified Lebanese position on the issue of border demarcation and adherence to the continued American mediation.
The Lebanese government announced that the US mediator in the maritime border demarcation negotiations with "Israel" had given a unified position on the issue of demarcation, stressing that Lebanon's interest requires starting the process of oil exploration without giving up the country's wealth.
The government affirmed that "Lebanon's supreme interest requires starting the process of oil exploration without giving up Lebanon's right to all its wealth."
Aoun: We refuse Israeli threats
Yesterday, a Lebanese official source said Beirut will for the first time present a written proposal to the US delegation regarding the border demarcation with "Israel", which has the approval of Lebanon's President, Prime Minister, and Speaker.
The source told Sputnik that the main point in Lebanon's written response is that it is based on the country's right to fully invest in the Qana field, and its refusal to relinquish any of it.
The fact that Lebanon holds a united position vis-a-vis the demarcation for the first time is in itself most of the victory because differences on the matter have threatened to waste Lebanon's chances.
Lebanon's President Michel Aoun asserted that Beirut refuses "Israel's" threats, and holds firm to the return to indirect negotiations with the occupation.
Aoun tweeted on Monday that Lebanon refuses the threats of the Israeli enemy, who is behaving in violation of international law.
He further added that there is no relation between the talks on border demarcation with "Israel", the import of gas and electricity from Egypt and Jordan, or negotiations with the IMF.
On Saturday, Aoun and Lebanese PM Najib Mikati discussed the issue of the demarcation of the maritime borders with the Israeli occupation to move negotiations forward.
A vessel operated by the London-based Energean arrived to develop a gas field known as Karish, which Lebanon says lies within a contested area.
The contested area is at the epicenter of the issue, and it drove Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to urge the Israeli occupation to take its equipment out of the Mediterranean Sea "swiftly and immediately", warning against the repercussions that would stem from any violations of Lebanon's territorial integrity.
