Aoun: Lebanon is keen on its rights to its territorial waters and natural resources
Aoun pledged to provide the appropriate conditions for the election of a new president for Lebanon.
EPA
Lebanese President General Michel Aoun stressed Lebanon's keenness on its rights in its territorial waters and natural resources, pointing out that the ongoing indirect negotiations to demarcate the southern maritime borders, whose first and last goal is to preserve Lebanon's rights.
In a speech he delivered yesterday during a ceremony marking the 77th Army Day, he stressed "our keenness on our rights in our territorial waters and natural resources, which cannot be tolerated under any consideration," adding, "in parallel with Lebanon's keenness to maintain calm and stability on its southern borders."
He said, "The ongoing indirect negotiations to demarcate the southern maritime borders, whose first and last goal is to preserve Lebanon's rights, and to reach, through cooperation with the American mediator, conclusions that protect our rights and wealth."
On the other hand, Aoun pledged to provide the appropriate conditions for the election of a new President of the Republic.
He said: "From my position, and as a reflection of my constitutional responsibilities, I reiterate that, as I committed myself to holding the parliamentary elections, I will work with all my strength to provide the appropriate conditions for the election of a new president who will continue the arduous reform process that we have begun."
He added that "this national achievement will not be achieved unless the new parliament, as president and members, assumes its responsibilities in choosing whom the Lebanese find the personality and specifications appropriate to bear this responsibility."
He expressed the hope, "that the fate of the presidential elections will not be the same as the fate of forming the new government."
He considered that "the failure to form a government ... deepens the economic and financial difficulties."
For his part, the US mediator in the maritime border dispute between Lebanon and Israel, Amos Hochstein, said yesterday that he is still optimistic about progress towards an agreement and looks forward to returning to the region to reach a "final arrangement."
Hochstein made these statements after a meeting with senior Lebanese leaders at the Presidential Palace.
"I remain optimistic that we can make continued progress as we have done over the past several weeks and I look forward to being able to return to the region to make the final arrangement," Hochstein said.
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