The Presidency Press Office issued the following statement:

“President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, met Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Elias Bou Saab, this morning at the Presidential Palace.

Deputy Speaker Bou Saab was assigned by the President to follow up the file of the demarcation of the southern maritime borders in cooperation with the American mediator, Amos Hochstein.

Deputy Speaker Bou Saab handed the President the final modified official version of the proposal that was submitted by the American mediator for the agreement on southern maritime borders.

The Presidency of the Republic considers the final version of this offer satisfactory to Lebanon, especially as it meets the Lebanese demands that have been the focus of a long debate during the past months and required effort and long hours of difficult and complex negotiations.

In this context, the Presidency believes that the final formula preserved Lebanon’s rights to its natural wealth, at an important time for the Lebanese, and hopes that the agreement on the demarcation will be announced as soon as possible.

The President of the Republic thanks the American mediator and the American administration for the efforts that were made to reach this formula, and confirms that he will conduct the necessary consultations on this national issue in preparation for the official announcement of the unified national position”.

Statement of Deputy Speaker:

After the meeting, Deputy Speaker Bou Saab made the following statement:

“Today, I handed over to President Michel Aoun the amended final version, after the American ambassador had handed him the offer sent by the American mediator, Amos Hochstein.

What I can say today is that His Excellency the President began his term by issuing decrees, and I hope he will conclude it with a demarcation that contains a great economic interest, and stability for Lebanon, which it obtained today in the form that will be under study by His Excellency the President, who will conduct the necessary consultations with the Parliament Speaker and Prime Minister.

This issue today, in its final form, has come before the President of the Republic, and he has met all the Lebanese demands and our observations have been taken into consideration, contrary to what is rumoured about Lebanon did not take any of its demands, but rather obtained its demands because they are right, and I know that the other party wants to consider that it has obtained what it wants, and what was done last week is that the two parties considered that they had obtained the required guarantees and a fair agreement.

For us, the file has been completed and is in the custody of His Excellency the President, and the atmosphere is very positive about the effort made by the American mediator and the American administration, because today we have reached a solution that satisfies both parties, which is a very difficult matter because they do not establish diplomatic relations. In fact, Lebanon does not recognize the Israeli enemy. Therefore, reaching an understanding of this kind on borders that have an economic interest is not an easy thing. Rather, it is a very great effort by the American administration that was in place and was done in a just and equitable manner. Otherwise, we would not have reached what we have reached today.

The copy is with His Excellency the President, and our role is over, and in the coming hours, His Excellency will act in the manner he deems appropriate to give answers.

Today, there will be many developments, and everyone in Lebanon and abroad is waiting what will be issued by Lebanon regarding the agreement”.