Aoun Briefs Cabinet on Tillerson, Satterfield Talks, Says Lebanon to be 'Gas Producing Country'

President Michel Aoun on Thursday briefed the Cabinet on his separate talks with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield, while noting that Lebanon will become a “gas producing country.”

“We have informed the U.S. side of Lebanon's stance over the issue of the (Israeli) cement wall and territorial waters, and we focused on continuing discussions and consultations to reach solutions for these issues,” Aoun said, noting that Tillerson was appreciative of the Lebanese stance during his talks earlier in the day with the president.

“Several proposals will be discussed,” Aoun revealed.

The president also noted that Lebanon will become “a gas producing country” and that the Lebanese should be ready to benefit from the development, especially in the transportation sector.

“It costs less and its environmental impact is lighter,” Aoun noted, reminding of a draft law for switching to natural gas vehicles that he had submitted when he was the head of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc.

Turning to the crisis in the education sector, the president stressed the need to hold a session dedicated to educational affairs, amid a continued boycott of Cabinet sessions by Education Minister Marwan Hamadeh.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri meanwhile said he endorses Aoun's remarks on the talks with Tillerson and Satterfield.