United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — The United Nation's Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the formal deal between Lebanon and Israel to settle their maritime boundary dispute, which was mediated by the United States, describing it as an "encouraging development," in an official statement released by the UN on Thursday.
Here's what we know:
• After months of negotiations led by the United States, President Michel Aoun said in a televised speech Thursday evening that Lebanon "approves" the final draft of the maritime border deal with Israel, while on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid's office issued a statement after receiving the final draft of the agreement, saying “Israel and Lebanon have reached a historic agreement settling the maritime dispute."
• The secretary’s spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, indicated that Guterres "strongly believes this encouraging development can promote increased stability in the region and enhanced prosperity for the Lebanese and Israeli peoples."
• The secretary-general also reiterated "the commitment of the United Nations to support the effective implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) and other relevant resolutions which remain essential to the stability of the region."