The US envoy Amos Hochstein held talks on Wednesday with Lebanese House Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister of the Caretaking Government Najib Mikati.
According to a statement released by the US embassy, Hochtein’s mission in Beirut is aimed at following up on the October agreement on demarcating the marine borders with Israel. The agreement paved the way for gas and oil exploration in zones straddling the borderline.
The speakership said in a statement that Berri affirmed during his reception of the American delegate that his efforts are currently focused on electing a new president AND completing legislations concerning the oil exploration.
Berri stressed during the meeting that Israel must halt breaches of the UN Resolution 1701 and affirmed keenness on maintaining cooperation with the international peace-keeping forces in southern Lebanon.
Lebanese officials are currently campaigning at the UN headquarters with respect of text of a resolution for renewing the peacekeepers’ mandate. Beirut has voiced concern at some proposals to develop the resolution and empower the international troops to conduct search missions without prior coordination with the Lebanese Army.
Hochtein had mediated the October agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv. Washington has repeatedly urged Lebanese leaders to elect a new president after expiry of mandate of the former president Michel Aoun months ago.
Exploration at block 9 at sea has already begun and results of the surveillance are expected in some two months. Lebanese are pinning high hopes on finding commercial quantities of gas and oil to tackle economic and financial crises.
Source: Kuwait News Agency