BEIRUT (Dispatches) – Lebanese President Michel Aoun has categorically dismissed as untrue the allegations that representatives from the Arab country have made concessions to the Zionist regime in the course of indirect U.S.-mediated talks over their maritime dispute to allow for offshore energy exploration.
“The issue of [maritime] demarcation is a matter of sovereignty par excellence. It is impossible for any shortcomings to occur. Line 29 was the starting point for the negotiations. If the talks arrive at satisfactory conclusions, a large part of Lebanon’s problems will be resolved,” Aoun told Lebanon’s Arabic-language OTV television station on Tuesday evening.
He highlighted that “all the statements about concessions made during indirect talks with Israel on the maritime dispute are not true.”
“Those making these claims are not aware of what happened in the course of the negotiations, which will safeguard Lebanon’s rights and natural wealth. It is what is important,” Aoun pointed out.
Last week, the Hezbollah resistance movement warned Lebanese authorities of Washington’s attempts to woo Beirut into establishment of formal diplomatic relations with the Zionist regime during talks over the maritime disputed.
“In light of recent developments concerning maritime demarcation talks, indication is that American mediators are trying to impose a fait accompli in the hope that it would open up the window of normalization with Israel,” the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc, the political wing of Hezbollah in the Lebanese parliament, said in a statement on February 17.