Lebanese President Michel Aoun said he was optimistic an American framework for maritime border talks with Israel would bear fruit in an interview with the country's Al Akhbar newspaper Saturday.
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In the interview, he appeared to admit the country had hardened its position in an effort to secure the original framework they had aspired to.
"Everything revolving around the negotiations must remain confidential until we get to the end of the talks," the Lebanese leader said, adding, "We do not have a final date for a response. When [US Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs] Amos Hochstein returns to Lebanon following his Israel visit, we will have an answer ready. There are points that require study further."
He said, "The Lebanese position is clear. Point 29 was the point of negotiations and not the maritime border. A few officials proposed this line. There is a negotiation framework that was previously set out by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berry and we will work from it. We designated Point 23 as the maritime border, not as a concession but as our genuine and practical right. This is the line we are sticking to. An agreement must be reached that satisfied the will of both sides. I think there is hope of getting to this result. We have a gas and oil field that overlaps with Israel and negotiations are underway on it now."
Aoun explained, "When an agreement is reached on the matter, we will sit at the negotiation table in [the southern Lebanese city of] Naqoura. There is no going back until we settle what remains of the dispute. But the central and first negotiating table is here in Baabda Presidential Palace. The president is the one who conducts negotiations and then goes to close them with the government and the parliament, which does not prevent other senior officials from being updated on the negotiation stages."
Aoun said progress had been made on maritime border talks because both Israel and Lebanon were "in a rush. The Americans are also eager to close the deal. Both sides need the demarcation of the maritime border to get to work. We doubly need it because we have not started as Israel has with its gas and oil."
Israel already pumps gas from huge offshore fields. Lebanon, which has yet to find commercial gas reserves in its own waters, is desperate for cash from foreign donors.
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