Aoun says no partnership with Israel as Israelis discuss Qana with TotalEnergies
President Michel Aoun announced Monday that there will be no “partnership” with Israel in the offshore gas fields, as an Israeli media report said Israel is discussing its “share” in Lebanon’s Qana field with French oil giant TotalEnergies.
“Lebanon will today decide its stance on the written proposal presented by U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein in consultation with Speaker Nabih Berri and PM-designate Najib Mikati and in light of the observations of the technical committee formed for this purpose,” Aoun said in a Baabda meeting with Anne Gueguen, the head of the MENA region at the French foreign ministry.
He added that over the past months he was “keen on guaranteeing Lebanon’s rights in its waters and on providing the appropriate circumstances for the launch of exploration operations in the oil and gas fields specified in the exclusive economic zone, which the TotalEnergies firm is supposed to begin.”
Stressing that “there won’t be any partnership with the Israeli side,” Aoun hoped exploration in Lebanon’s waters would “represent a positive beginning that would help Lebanon’s economy rise once again after the deterioration of the past years.”
Israel's state-run radio network meanwhile reported that the director general of Israel’s energy ministry was discussing with TotalEnergies Israel's “share” from the Qana field revenues.
Source: Naharnet
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