Lebanon to Send Diplomatic and Legal File to U.N. on Demarcation of Maritime Border
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The ministerial committee charged with tackling the issue of the demarcation of Lebanon’s maritime border with Israel is set to prepare a legal and diplomatic file ahead of presenting the case to the United Nations, revealed Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour to An Nahar daily in remarks published on Thursday.
The daily noted that an international understanding of Lebanon’s position on Israel’s latest stand on the matter has emerged, saying that the U.N. should handle this file according to international and maritime laws.
Meanwhile, widely-informed military sources told As Safir newspaper in remarks published on Thursday that the tripartite meeting held at Ras al-Naqoura between the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon and Lebanese and Israeli officers on Wednesday focused on the demarcation process.
He quoted Lebanese Army Commander representative Abdul Rahman Shaitly as saying to the Israeli side: “The maritime borders approved by the Israeli government are illegal and a blatant violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and rights.”
He added: “You are playing with fire and your actions will lead to greater problems.”
“We will not accept the reality you are trying to impose,” he declared.
For their part, the Israeli officers deemed Shaitly’s statement’s as political, saying that the Israeli government, not the army, has jurisdiction in this case.
Meanwhile, Energy Minister Jebran Bassil stressed to As Safir the importance of the new government taking swift action to protect Lebanon’s rights in this matter.
Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn also told the newspaper that Lebanon will follow up on this issue through a “heated diplomatic battle until its maritime rights are achieved.”
“Cabinet will take the appropriate position on the matter on Thursday where it will resort to the U.N. to combat Israel’s violations,” he added.
Minister of Economy Nicolas Nahhas stressed that the dispute over the border should not prevent Lebanon from immediately placing the necessary legal measures in order for it to invest in its offshore petroleum wealth.
14 July 2011, 15:37
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Now that Imbecile Saad and his Mafia are finally out of the picture for good, things will progress, and they will progress much more smoothly. The party and the Party of the Mafia are both over. Lebanon's Spring is now achievable. Decent Lebanese, REJOICE.
14 July 2011, 16:28
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This is the proper way to do it as opposed to having Kermit on TV lisping and threatening.
14 July 2011, 22:15
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This is the correct way, good move.
Now get the non official rag heads to shut up please.
15 July 2011, 01:01
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Oh common this is so boring. They just want borders so they can make more trouble.
15 July 2011, 06:23
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What a bunch of retarded double faced officials. How come now you want to go seek the help of the U.N in this matter, while on other matters such as the STL in Harriri's murder you reject the U.N help and say it is an american zionist plot?
15 July 2011, 08:49
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Unfortunately we in Lebanon do not understand world politics nor we understand the world economics. Israel keeps out maneuvering us in every corner. If we do our homework before we open our mouth and research the demarkation properly people will start taking us seriously until then we will continue to look like fools in the eyes of the world. This issue is not about 14 or 8 or this group or that, it is about our natural resources. My advise to all of you in Lebanon show that you are educated and start doing your homework and research that can be found all over the internet about our natural resources and then go to the UN. An example is basically hire Total Fina, or Schlumberger to demarkation of the field and present it to the UN and please make sure you use experts not like your Iranian or Syrian mongers.
