Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati delivering a speech during the Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh. (Credit: National News Agency)
BEIRUT — Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati told Al Araby TV that Lebanon's response to the U.S. truce proposal was positive, but that some points still need to be discussed.
After meeting with Mikati in the Grand Serail on Monday, MP and former member of the Free Patriotic Movement Simon Abi Ramia said that Lebanon agreed on proposals for a truce presented by France and the U.S. and confirmed U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein's visit to Lebanon on Tuesday, according to a statement released by the Grand Serail.
On Thursday, the U.S. submitted a draft truce proposal to Lebanon's speaker of parliament Nabih Berri to halt the ongoing 13-month conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.
He said that he hasn't heard of a condition regarding Israel's freedom of military movements in Lebanon, adding that this is just speculation.
This clause had been demanded by Israel, to have operational freedom in southern Lebanon in the event of a violation of the agreement by Hezbollah.
Mikati added that Hochstein will visit Lebanon soon and that "hazy files will be resolved face-to-face."
Reuters reported on Monday that Hochstein is due to visit Lebanon on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Israel's Channel 12 reported that he will visit Israel on Wednesday.
Hochstein has been overseeing contacts to secure a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah since the beginning of the conflict.
The Prime Minister also said that he met with the Lebanese Army leadership today and was briefed on the army's plan to reinforce its presence in southern Lebanon.
"What matters to me is to strengthen the army's presence in southern Lebanon and that there are no [illegitimate] weapons," he finally said.