Rubio says Lebanon and Israel very close to 'very positive' declaration of intent
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday said Lebanon and Israel are nearing a "very positive" declaration of intent amid their ongoing talks in Washington.
"I think we are very close in our hopes of getting a commitment of inent between the two countries that I think begin to outline a promising future. It'll be a process, it'll take some time, it'll take a lot of work," Rubio said.
"But I can tell you that for the first time in 30 years, the sovereign government of Lebanon is speaking to the government of Israel directly," he noted.
"That's who we're going to be negotiating with, that's who we're going to be working with—not Hezbollah. Hezbollah is not the government of—of Lebanon," the top U.S. diplomat went on to say.
"Lebanon has a government, it has democratically elected leaders. They are—they have the sovereign right to speak and defend the interests of the Lebanese people," Rubio said.
He added: "And what we want for Lebanon is a peaceful future ... And frankly, I think we're going to have a very positive commitment ... of intent, whether it's today or in the days to come."
"We're working very hard at that. Hopefully today will be a—a day that can build on some of the things we—we were able to make progress on yesterday," Rubio said.
Source: Naharnet
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