US Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea is received in Baabda by President Michel Aoun on Wednesday. (Credit: Twitter/@LBpresidency)
BEIRUT — The United States Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea discussed the latest developments in Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Lebanese-Israeli maritime borders negotiations during a meeting Wednesday with President Michel Aoun, the state-run National News Agency reported.
Here’s what we know:
• According to the NNA, Aoun discussed with Shea “the latest international developments and the consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian war, as well as the steps taken in the course of the southern maritime borders negotiations file.”
• In an interview published by Asas Media on Sunday, Aoun was asked about his decision last year to stake claim to an additional 1,430 km2 of offshore territory during the negotiations. Aoun reportedly replied that this demand“was created in Lebanon for the purpose of improving Lebanon’s negotiation conditions but was not recognized internationally.” He also said that Israel responded to this demand by maximizing its demands, which led to the suspension of the negotiations. “Line 23 is today’s negotiating line,” Aoun added in reference to Lebanon’s original claim of 860 km2 in the negotiations.
• During the visit to Lebanon of the US envoy mediating indirect talks on Lebanon’s maritime borders with Israel Amos Hochstein, Aoun had told Hochstein that Lebanon “is ready to study the points [Hochstein] raised based on the desire to find a solution to the file.”
• The disputed offshore area between Lebanon and Israel is thought to potentially contain a large quantity of hydrocarbons.
• During his visit last month, Hochstein said that the gaps have narrowed between Lebanon and Israel regarding the border’s demarcation. “There is an opportunity today … We can reach an agreement, but we will not conclude it ourselves, as Lebanon and Israel must decide to do so.”
• On Wednesday, Aoun also received the United Nations Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon Najat Rochdi who presented to him the “United Nations strategic framework for the years 2022-2026” as well as different aid programs for Lebanon’s sectors, the presidency’s Twitter account reported.