Lebanese Parliament Deputy Speaker Describes Maritime Borders Negotiations as Positive

Beirut, August 01 (QNA) - Deputy Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Elias Bou Saab, described the atmosphere related to the indirect negotiations to demarcate the maritime borders between Lebanon and Israel as positive, noting that the gap in the differences in this issue has narrowed and the time period "separating us from the return of the American mediator to Beirut will be short".
Bou Saab denied any sharing of wealth or profits with Israel, explaining that Amos Hochstein, the American mediator in the indirect technical negotiations to demarcate the maritime borders between Lebanon and Israel, did not present them with any subject in this regard.
These statements came after the US mediator met with Lebanese President General Michel Aoun, Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
The Deputy Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament pointed out that "everyone was satisfied, and we are waiting for the achievement of what was discussed during the meeting, and we will see the result in the next few weeks in this field." For his part, the American mediator said the negotiations he conducted were very important, expressing his optimism that there will be more progress in the issue of demarcating the southern maritime borders. He hoped to return again soon to the region to reach the desired result.
A statement issued by the Lebanese presidency said that during the meeting, Hochstein presented to the Lebanese side the outcome of the consultations he had held with Israeli officials regarding the issue of demarcating the southern maritime border with the Israeli entity, and heard a unified Lebanese position in accordance with the declared Lebanese firm stances.
The demarcation of the maritime borders is of great importance to Lebanon, especially after the discovery of an important reserve of oil resources within the country's territorial waters, which constitute an important financial resource for the Beirut authorities in the shadow of the financial and economic crisis they are facing. (QNA)