Washington (Kavian Press) – First round of talks was held between Lebanon and Israel over their disputed maritime border on Wednesday. After the meeting Lebanese state media reported a second round to be held on October 28.
The meeting was held at the headquarters of UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL in the Lebanese border town of Naqoura with both sides insisting the talks are only technical at this stage.
The talks are “first step in the thousand-mile march towards the demarcation” of the maritime frontier; Brigadier General Bassam Yassin was quoted as saying in a statement issued by Lebanese officials after the session.
“Based on the higher interests of our country, we are looking to achieve a pace of negotiations that would allow us to conclude this dossier within reasonable time.
Israeli officials said there will be “direct negotiations”, but Lebanese officials have denied that so far.
Six-member team of Israel includes the director-general of its energy ministry, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s foreign policy adviser and the head of the army’s strategic division.
On the Lebanon side the four-member delegation comprised two army officers, a Lebanese oil official and a maritime border law expert.
Hezbollah which is considered a terrorist group by US and Israel has criticized the delegation representing Lebanon at the talks.
