Lebanon's President Michel Aoun is pictured at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon April 7, 2021. (Dalati & Nohra)
BEIRUT — President Michel Aoun on Wednesday evening said that the Lebanese-Israeli maritime border negotiations will conclude “soon.” Aoun’s comments came more than a month after US mediator in the negotiations Amos Hochstein came to Lebanon to receive a new proposal from the country.
Here’s what we know:
• Talking to OTV, Aoun said: "we have reached the beginning of an agreement with the Americans who are mediating with Israel … the solution is for the interest of Lebanon and everyone.” Aoun added, "The atmosphere is positive, otherwise we would not have continued the negotiations."
• Last month, Hochstein came to Lebanon as the maritime border negotiations were resumed and reportedly received a new proposal from Aoun in which he said he would present to Israeli officials.
• Following Hochstein’s visit to Israel to discuss maritime negotiations, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said on June 28: “The exchanges were productive and made progress towards narrowing the differences between the two sides. The United States will remain engaged with all parties in the days and weeks ahead.”