Berri Inquires U.S. about Role in Lebanon-Israel Maritime Border Dispute
Speaker Nabih Berri has asked Lebanon's Ambassador to Washington to inquire the U.S. administration about the reasons behind the procrastination of a top energy diplomat in resolving the territorial dispute between Lebanon and Israel.
Berri told his visitors on Thursday that he asked Ambassador Antoine Chedid to ask the State Department on why Amos Hochstein has stopped his mission.
The speaker's remarks were published in al-Joumhouria newspaper on Friday.
Berri is spearheading a campaign to revive the oil exploration file in Lebanon after accusing Israel of “stealing” Lebanon's offshore gas.
He has also been calling for the demarcation of the southern territorial waters.
Berri told his visitors that he would meet with UNIFIL Commander Major General Luciano Portolano on Friday to discuss with him a possible U.N. role in protecting Lebanon's rights in its Exclusive Economic Zone.
But U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, who was in Beirut this week, has said that any U.N. mediation in that regard requires a request by the Lebanese and Israeli authorities.
“We haven't so far received any such Israeli demand,” he said.
Lebanon and Israel are at loggerheads over the 850 kilometers of territorial water that each claims as part of its EEZ.
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