Lebanon to Send Diplomatic and Legal File to U.N. on Demarcation of Maritime Border
The ministerial committee charged with tackling the issue of the demarcation of Lebanon’s maritime border with Israel is set to prepare a legal and diplomatic file ahead of presenting the case to the United Nations, revealed Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour to An Nahar daily in remarks published on Thursday.
The daily noted that an international understanding of Lebanon’s position on Israel’s latest stand on the matter has emerged, saying that the U.N. should handle this file according to international and maritime laws.
Meanwhile, widely-informed military sources told As Safir newspaper in remarks published on Thursday that the tripartite meeting held at Ras al-Naqoura between the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon and Lebanese and Israeli officers on Wednesday focused on the demarcation process.
He quoted Lebanese Army Commander representative Abdul Rahman Shaitly as saying to the Israeli side: “The maritime borders approved by the Israeli government are illegal and a blatant violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and rights.”
He added: “You are playing with fire and your actions will lead to greater problems.”
“We will not accept the reality you are trying to impose,” he declared.
For their part, the Israeli officers deemed Shaitly’s statement’s as political, saying that the Israeli government, not the army, has jurisdiction in this case.
Meanwhile, Energy Minister Jebran Bassil stressed to As Safir the importance of the new government taking swift action to protect Lebanon’s rights in this matter.
Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn also told the newspaper that Lebanon will follow up on this issue through a “heated diplomatic battle until its maritime rights are achieved.”
“Cabinet will take the appropriate position on the matter on Thursday where it will resort to the U.N. to combat Israel’s violations,” he added.
Minister of Economy Nicolas Nahhas stressed that the dispute over the border should not prevent Lebanon from immediately placing the necessary legal measures in order for it to invest in its offshore petroleum wealth.
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