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In the framework of a process that is expected to be long, the first round of indirect technical negotiations between the delegations of Lebanon and Israel was concluded to demarcate the borders between them under the auspices of the United Nations and the participation of the United States of America as mediator.
The first round took place at the headquarters of UNIFIL forces in the Lebanese village of Naqoura, near the Blue Line, and has two entrances to Israeli territory, from where the Israeli delegation entered, and a second entry was designated to enter the Lebanese side from the Naqoura side.
An international source revealed to Al-Jazeera Net that the first round was to lay the foundations for the dialogue that will actually start from the second round, which was established on the 26th of this month, as the Lebanese presidency said, after the Head of the negotiating delegation, Brigadier General Bassam Yassin, will brief you on the events of the first round.
Marine animal hair
In his speech during the first session, Yassin said that these negotiations are supposed to lead to the demarcation of the southern borders of Lebanon hosted by the United Nations, under its flag, and with the facilitation of the United States of America.
He added that the meeting “will sound the whistle of the indirect technical negotiation train”, hoping that “the negotiation wheel will advance at a pace that will allow us to complete this file in a reasonable time.”
He stressed that the Lebanese delegation came to negotiate the demarcation of its maritime borders on the basis of international law, the armistice agreement of 1949 documented by the United Nations departments, and the “Paulet-Newcombe” agreement of 1923, specifically in what this agreement stipulates on the starting line. From Ras Naqoura point by road.
The head of the Lebanese delegation expressed his hope that the other parties “will fulfill their obligations on the basis of complying with the requirements of international law and maintaining the confidentiality of the deliberations.”
Yassin said: “The confirmation of the minutes and discussions of the indirect technical negotiation meetings, as well as the final version of the demarcation, will take place after the approval of the competent Lebanese political authorities.”
Chronic conflict
The technical negotiations between Lebanon and Israel aim to demarcate the borders in the disputed area at sea. Lebanon says this area includes 850 square kilometers within the area that Tel Aviv considers its exclusive economic zone, while Israel claims about 860 square kilometers in the Lebanese economic zone.
Beirut highlights the importance of the coexistence of land and sea lanes in the demarcation of borders, and the Lebanese vision is divided into two tracks, one of which is the demarcation of maritime borders with US mediation and under the auspices of United The United Nations, while the second track is related to the demarcation of land borders, provided this is done within the framework of the tripartite Israel / Nations (Lebanon) committee (The United Nations, which has met for years under the supervision of the UNIFIL.
Obsessed with Israel
The military expert, retired Brigadier General Elias Farhat, told Al-Jazeera Net that there is a dispute over the water surface between point B1 (B1) in Ras al-Naqoura and point (23) that Cyprus and Israel adopt at sea.
He explained to Al-Jazeera Net that Lebanon wants to resolve the dispute over “B1” by land, so that the matter is finalized in the demarcation of the maritime line. Farhat highlights the importance of the coexistence of land and maritime demarcation, expressing fear that Israel will not abide by the agreement framework for technical negotiations on border demarcation.
Elias Farhat expressed his fears that Israel will not abide by the agreement framework for technical negotiation (Al Jazeera Net)The underlying dispute
For his part, the international law expert, lawyer Paul Morcos, believes that the conflict with Israel is related to the land point from which the maritime demarcation will begin, expressing his fear of “Israeli greed for maritime demarcation according to its logic to inflict heavy losses on Lebanon and its right to invest its oil wealth. “
He adds to Al-Jazeera Net that “the Agreement on the Law of the Sea, and if Israel did not sign it, defines the rules of maritime borders.” He believes that Lebanon expects the maritime borders to be drawn according to its vision, and that it will not be at its expense. “This is what reassures oil companies for exploration, especially since we rely on the extraction of gas or oil by sea to reduce the country’s public indebtedness, pay off debts and stop the financial collapse.”
Duration of negotiations
And the technical negotiations that started between the two arch enemies, is there a deadline for them? A political observer in Beirut, who prefers not to reveal his name, says that Lebanon wanted to set a timetable for these negotiations not to exceed 6 months. He adds that this issue has left the negotiating framework agreement, so that “there are no time limits for the path of this negotiation, which will be long and may not have a horizon or significant results.”
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