'We Won't Give Anything to Israel', Says Bassil on Border Demarcation
Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on Friday stressed that Lebanon is clinging to its rights regarding the demarcation of the land and maritime borders with Israel, noting that “the talks that will be held are in Lebanon's interest.”
“We won't give anything to Israel. We will recover a usurped land and we will gain sovereignty over a stolen land or a maritime zone we consider to be Lebanese,” Bassil said during a joint press conference with his Spanish counterpart Josep Borrell in Madrid.
“Anything that allows us to recover them or carry out gas, petroleum or oil activities in them is a win for Lebanon,” he added.
“Today there is an opportunity to recover our rights and it should not be wasted,” Bassil went on to say.
The Lebanese Foreign Ministry said Tuesady that Lebanon and Israel are close to establishing a framework for negotiations on demarcating the Lebanese-Israeli land and maritime borders.
In a statement, it said the form of negotiations to be held under United Nations auspices and the role of each of the concerned parties is still being worked out. The purported negotiations are to be overseen by Washington, which has been mediating between Lebanon and Israel.
Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz's office said Monday in a statement that such talks could be "for the good of both countries' interests in developing natural gas reserves and oil."
31 May 2019, 21:34
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What Basil meant to say “We won't give anything to Israel. We will recover a usurped land and we will gain sovereignty over a stolen land or a maritime zone we consider to be Lebanese, and I get my check cleared in Switzerland”
31 May 2019, 21:51
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This paper tiger has done serious damage to Lebanon that would impact generations. After Cedar Revolution gave us a breath of independence, sovereignty, prosperity and justice; plus 6% GNP growth to quickly eradicate debt and create the silicon valley & financial hub of the region, he and his party successfully raped Lebanon handing its over to a militia working for the basij, restored Assad hegemony, destroyed our economy, and exiled all western investments. He is but a fool at mercy of Hezbollah!
01 June 2019, 06:53
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Minister Bassil should do everything in his capability to stop Israel drillings and violations of blablablablabla's deep and wide luv tunnel. This tunnel is a national treasure and its penetration by virile tourists have brought millions of dollars into the treasury.
02 June 2019, 00:06
01
Negotiations generally involve compromise by both sides on unclear issues. Bassil's approach will work if there are only clear cut issues that all run in Lebanon's favor. Otherwise, compromises will be necessary to reach agreement.
02 June 2019, 00:27
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So Bassil has condemned the talks to failure even before they started. Negotiations bring about compromise, compromise brings about agreement.
If he is not willing to compromise then why the heck is he going to take part in the talks? Presumably in order to please his Iranian backers who can then say that Israeli intransigence brought about no agreement.
