The U.S. Embassy in Beirut voiced optimism over the visit that U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein made to Lebanon last Friday.
“The United States is committed to helping forge an agreement for the people of Lebanon,” adding, “We echo his (Hochstein) optimism.”
U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein has told Lebanese officials that a point of contention needs to be resolved in order for the maritime border negotiations to move towards a quick agreement, media reports said.
The issue here is related to fixing the maritime Blue Line, which is marked by the line of buoys on the surface of the sea off the coasts of Lebanon and occupied Palestine.
In this context, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Elias Bou Saab announced on Sunday that Lebanon has received from Hochstein coordinates related to marine buoys.
Official sources who took part in the meetings noted the presence of “positivity and progress.” The U.S. mediator reportedly said that Lebanon’s demands will be met and that his government wants the agreement to be signed within three weeks.
“During next week, Hochstein will present a written draft of the agreement, after specifying the coordinates related to the buoys, and then things will happen accordingly,” Bou Saab noted.