Aoun hopes maritime border deal announced 'as soon as possible'

BEIRUT — Lebanese President Michel Aoun's office said on Tuesday, after receiving the final US draft of the Lebanese-Israeli maritime border deal from Deputy Parliament Speaker Elias Bou Saab, that he hopes the agreement would be announced "as soon as possible." 

Aoun's statement came after negotiators from Lebanon and Israel said they received a final draft of a US-mediated maritime border agreement that satisfies all of their requirements and could imminently lead to a "historic". 

"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," Aoun's office said in the statement. 

"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 statement added.

For his part, Bou Saab said after meeting Aoun Tuesday morning that "for us, the file is closed and is now in the hands of the president. The atmosphere is very positive and I can say that we have reached a solution that satisfies both parties. It was difficult because we are talking about two states that do not recognize each other," added Bou Saab in a statement. "In the coming hours, the decision will return to the president of the republic to give answers," he concluded.

Bou Saab did not, however, reveal the content of the final proposal that was transmitted to the Lebanese authorities. 

The United States has been mediating between Lebanon and Israel for two years to reach an agreement on their maritime border. The two countries had indicated in early October their satisfaction with a draft agreement from American mediator Amos Hochstein. But last Thursday, Israel stated its rejection of a series of Lebanese amendments to the draft agreement, which had dampened hopes of a breakthrough.