Macron to Al Mayadeen: Maritime border demarcation is good news

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
22 Oct 2022 11:29

In an exclusive statement to Al Mayadeen, the French President urges Lebanese political parties to elect a new president within the constitutional deadline.

French President Emmanuel Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron told Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Brussels that the demarcation of the southern maritime borders of Lebanon is good news.

During a press conference following the EU summit in Brussels, the French President urged Lebanese political parties to elect a new president within the constitutional deadline.

"Lebanese leaders should work to settle the constitutional issue within the legal deadlines," he said.

#macron_Liban répondant à ma question: c’est aux forces libanaises de trouver une solution pour le pays pic.twitter.com/reDZ77UxcM
— Moussa Assi (@moussaassi) October 21, 2022

Lebanese President Michel Aoun has lately announced Lebanon's agreement to adopt the final version of the maritime border demarcation agreement, stressing that it "responds to Lebanon's demands and preserves its rights in full."

The Lebanese President stressed that "Lebanon did not concede not even a kilometer to 'Israel', as we obtained the entire Qana field, and refused to recognize the Israeli buoys' line."

Last Tuesday, Lebanese President Michel Aoun called on TotalEnergies company to quickly begin exploring Block 9 in the Mediterranean sea, "to make up for the time lost due to indirect negotiations to demarcate the southern maritime borders."

In the same context, the Lebanese Presidency’s press office indicated Friday that “what has been achieved as to the demarcation of the southern sea border is the result of a Lebanese decision that reflects the unity of the Lebanese stance and the result of tough and difficult negotiations that were led by the Lebanese negotiating team with the US mediator.”

In a statement posted on Twitter, the Presidency affirmed that "during the negotiations, Lebanon did not offer any concessions and it did not bow to any bargains, swaps, 'deals' or the wills of foreign nations."

On its part, the Israeli occupation cabinet last week approved the US-brokered maritime border agreement with Lebanon, with all its members voting in favor, except for Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked who abstained, Israeli media reported.