Presidency of the Republic: “The final
version of the offer satisfies Lebanon, meets its demands, and preserves its
rights to its natural wealth”.
Presidency of the Republic: “We hope that
the agreement on the demarcation will be announced as soon as possible”.
The President will hold the necessary
consultations on this national issue in preparation for an official
announcement of the unified national position.
Deputy Speaker Bou Saab: “President Aoun
began his term with decrees, and I hope he will conclude it with demarcation.
Everyone in Lebanon and abroad is awaiting the official Lebanese position
regarding the agreement”.
Deputy Speaker Bou Saab: “Lebanon got
everything it wanted, contrary to rumours, and the United States will deposit
the approval of Lebanon and the Israelis with the United Nations”.
Deputy Speaker Bou Saab: “Lebanon will
obtain its full rights from the Qana field, and the Israelis’ revenues from the
field may be taken from “Total”. Lebanon does not recognize the line of buoys”.
The Presidency Press Office issued the following
statement:
“President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, met
Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Elias Bou Saab, this morning at the Presidential
Palace.
Deputy Speaker Bou Saab was assigned by the President
to follow up the file of the demarcation of the southern maritime borders in
cooperation with the American mediator, Amos Hochstein.
Deputy Speaker Bou Saab handed the President the final
modified official version of the proposal that was submitted by the American
mediator for the agreement on southern maritime borders.
The Presidency of the Republic considers the final
version of this offer satisfactory to Lebanon, especially as it meets the
Lebanese demands that have been the focus of a long debate during the past
months and required effort and long hours of difficult and complex
negotiations.
In this context, the Presidency believes that the
final formula preserved Lebanon’s rights to its natural wealth, at an important
time for the Lebanese, and hopes that the agreement on the demarcation will be
announced as soon as possible.
The President of the Republic thanks the American
mediator and the American administration for the efforts that were made to
reach this formula, and confirms that he will conduct the necessary
consultations on this national issue in preparation for the official
announcement of the unified national position”.
Statement of Deputy Speaker:
After the meeting, Deputy Speaker Bou Saab made the
following statement:
“Today, I handed over to President Michel Aoun the
amended final version, after the American ambassador had handed him the offer
sent by the American mediator, Amos Hochstein.
What I can say today is that His Excellency the
President began his term by issuing decrees, and I hope he will conclude it
with a demarcation that contains a great economic interest, and stability for
Lebanon, which it obtained today in the form that will be under study by His
Excellency the President, who will conduct the necessary consultations with the
Parliament Speaker and Prime Minister.
This issue today, in its final form, has come before
the President of the Republic, and he has met all the Lebanese demands and our
observations have been taken into consideration, contrary to what is rumoured about
Lebanon did not take any of its demands, but rather obtained its demands
because they are right, and I know that the other party wants to consider that
it has obtained what it wants, and what was done last week is that the two
parties considered that they had obtained the required guarantees and a fair
agreement.
For us, the file has been completed and is in the
custody of His Excellency the President, and the atmosphere is very positive
about the effort made by the American mediator and the American administration,
because today we have reached a solution that satisfies both parties, which is
a very difficult matter because they do not establish diplomatic relations. In
fact, Lebanon does not recognize the Israeli enemy. Therefore, reaching an
understanding of this kind on borders that have an economic interest is not an
easy thing. Rather, it is a very great effort by the American administration
that was in place and was done in a just and equitable manner. Otherwise, we
would not have reached what we have reached today.
The copy is with His Excellency the President, and our
role is over, and in the coming hours, His Excellency will act in the manner he
deems appropriate to give answers.
Today, there will be many developments, and everyone
in Lebanon and abroad is waiting what will be issued by Lebanon regarding the
agreement”.
Questions & Answers:
Question: If Lebanon agrees to this version, what are the next practical steps?
Answer: “In the event that Lebanon officially agrees to the final version, there
are steps that are in place for what will follow, which I do not want to go
into details of, but it has become almost known. We are depositing the same
message with the American mediator that will be deposited with the United
Nations, which is what the other party will do as well, because the matter is
not an agreement or an international treaty between two enemy countries, but
whatever the formula, everyone knows that the agreement is between Lebanon and
the Americans on one hand, and the Israelis and the Americans on the other.
Again, the least it can be said is that it secures economic stability in the
region and gives hope”.
Question: There is talk about an Israeli participation in the wealth of the Qana
field. Is there an understanding on the matter between Lebanon and Israel and
the company?
Answer: “There is no partnership between Lebanon and Israel in the wealth of the
Qana field, just as there is no sharing between them either. This field extends
on both sides of the line that was adopted, and we are aware that there is an
understanding that took place and we are not in the details of it because we
are not interested in it, and it is between Total and Israel. Lebanon will
obtain its full rights from the Qana field on both sides of the line, and the
Israelis may take compensation from the “Total” company and not from the
Lebanese share, so that there is no ambiguity in the matter about Lebanon’s
share of the field. Lebanon has signed an agreement with Total since 2017, and
the terms of the agreement are clear and the Lebanese share in the field is
also clear, and what has been added is that the Lebanese share is not limited
to Block No. 9 only, but rather throughout the entire field.
There is no agreement in which the two parties do not
consider that the outcome will satisfy them. In the event that one of them is
considered a winner or a loser, no result can be reached. I hope that the
Israelis will look at this matter from this perspective and not engage in talk
of a retreat. We had feedback and we got it, so it was a modified version.
Also, according to the Israeli observations, the sources of disagreement over a
word were addressed, as was said yesterday, and we had an alternative proposal
for a word that satisfies us and won the approval of both parties. This is how
agreements are made”.
Question: Has Lebanon taken all of its rights? What about the line of buoys?
Answer: “Lebanon obtained its full rights, and took all the notes it had. The
matter is up to His Excellency the President and the Speaker and Premier, and
the decision is theirs. What I’m saying is that the observations we talked
about made. As for the line of buoys, we do not recognize it, and I have
already answered this question”.
Question: Are there penalties for companies that will commit to exploration?
Answer: “No, there are no international sanctions against any company in the
field that extends on both sides of the line”.