Bou Saab holds 'lengthy' phone call with Hochstein

Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab held a lengthy phone call this afternoon with U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein, during which they demonstrated the course of the negotiations between Lebanon and Israel over the demarcation of their sea border, Bou Saab’s press office said.

“Hochstein briefed Bou Saab on the outcome of the latest contacts that he has held with Israeli officials, the last of which took place a few days ago, stressing to him that he will continue his communication with the Israeli officials in the coming days,” the press office said in a statement.

Hochstein will also contact Bou Saab anew “within a week to seek the clarification of some points to pave the way for devising a written vision of what he discussed in Lebanon during his latest visit,” the statement added.

The statement also said that Bou Saab and Hochstein dismissed all the latest negative and positive reports about the course of the negotiations as “speculation that is not based on any information or official stances.”

Bou Saab for his part reiterated Lebanon’s stance, stressing “the need to work within the acceptable deadlines for the sake of the negotiations.”

“We must not exaggerate positivity nor negativity, seeing as his (Hochstein’s) talks have not ended yet, especially that Lebanon is negotiating from a position of strength that is immunized by the unity of the official stance,” the statement said.

It also revealed that Bou Saab has put President Michel Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and caretaker PM Najib Mikati in the picture of the phone call with Hochstein.