The Lebanese President Michel Aoun addressed the nation on Thursday, announcing Lebanon’s official stance of approving the US mediated maritime deal proposal and hailing the role of the Resistance in reaching this achievement.
Hence, following consultations with Parliament Speaker Mr. Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Mr. Najib Mikati, in my capacity as Head of State, after being informed by US President Joe Biden of Israel’s approval, and after the Israeli government declared its agreement, I declare Lebanon’s position of approving the adoption of the final version prepared by the American mediator for the demarcation of the southern maritime borders, …
President Aoun stressed that the indirect deal preserves the Lebanese rights and does not reflect any engagement in any kind of rejected normalization.
This indirect agreement responds to the Lebanese claims and fully preserves our rights. I thank everyone who stood by Lebanon in this achievement which would not have been possible without the unity and steadfastness of the Lebanese position in resisting all pressures, making no substantive concessions, and not engaging in any kind of rejected normalization.
Then, President Aoun reviewed the efforts of his ministerial team throughout the past years to prepare the needed laws and decrees concerned with the maritime oil exploration and investment.
President stressed that Lebanon managed to reach a historic achievement without making concessions:
Lebanon has the right to consider what was accomplished yesterday a historic achievement, for we were able to recover a disputed area of 860 square kilometers, and Lebanon did not concede any single kilometer to Israel. We also obtained the entire Qana field, without having to pay any remuneration, although the whole field is not located inside our waters.Likewise, our land boundaries were untouched, and Lebanon did not recognize the buoy line that Israel created after its withdrawal from our lands in 2000. Besides, no normalization with Israel took place. No direct talks or agreements were concluded with Israel. As for the remuneration it demanded for a part of Qana field located in the occupied waters, it will be paid by “Total”, and this will not affect the contract signed between Lebanon and “Total”.
The next step should be to hold talks with Syria to resolve the disputed area, which exceeds 900 square kilometers, through brotherly discussions. It is also necessary to review the demarcated borders with Cyprus and decide what should be done in the future, President Aoun said.
Finally, President Aoun thanked all House Speaker Nabih Berri, PM Najib Mikati, Deputy House Speaker Elias Bou Saab, and all the concerned officials who contributed to the achievement.
As for you, dear Lebanese ladies and gentlemen, I thank you twice, for you have contributed, through your steadfastness, dedication, and the struggle of your resistance, which proved to be an element of strength for Lebanon, to fortifying the Lebanese position in the negotiation and in the confrontation, thus accomplishing this achievement, for you and for future generations, for the advancement of your country, its progress, its prosperity and the comfort of its people.
Source: Al-Manar English Website and NNA
