BEIRUT — President Michel Aoun said Wednesday that progress has been made in negotiations on the demarcation of the southern maritime border with Israel, but technical details are still being “studied for the interest of Lebanon, its rights and sovereignty.”

During a meeting with the new Executive Council of the Information and Technology Syndicate, Aoun said the demarcation will enable Lebanon to begin the process of “exploration for oil and gas, and will give the Lebanese economy a positive impetus to begin to emerge from the [economic] crisis.” 

This remark was made after a quick visit to Lebanon last Friday by US envoy Amos Hochstein, mediator for the indirect negotiations between Lebanon and Israel over their common maritime border. During the visit, Hochstein met with Lebanese officials against a backdrop of recently increased tensions between Beirut and Tel Aviv.

These tensions flared after the arrival on behalf of Israel of a floating platform in the Karish gas field.

After the visit, caretaker Foreign Affairs Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said Monday that Hochstein "undoubtedly came up with new proposals" during his latest visit to Lebanon. Bou Habib did not disclose details of the new proposals.

Hochstein said Friday that "there is still work to be done" but "very good progress" was made in reaching an agreement between the two countries.