Speech of Brigadier General Pilot Bassam Yassin, head of delegation for the indirect technical negotiation file

Wednesday, 14 October 2020

Assistant Secretary of State for  Near Eastern Affairs, Mr. David Schenker, United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Mr. Ján Kubiš,

Firstly, it must be pointed out that his Excellency President General Michel Aoun is sponsoring the indirect technical negotiation file, which is supposed to lead the southern boundary delimitation, hosted by the United Nations and under its flag and brokered with facilitation by the USA.

It is also worth noting the efforts made by the Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon Nabih Berri to bring the file to closure in terms of launching the negotiation process. I would also like to emphasize the role played by LAF Commander in Chief General Joseph Aoun in pursuing the establishment of national sovereignty on the Lebanese borders and in enabling Lebanon to invest its natural wealth (oil and gas) within its exclusive economic zone protected under the international law. 

I would like to thank the USA for being a mediator and for the intention to do its utmost to create a positive and constructive atmosphere, and to maintain it while leading negotiations.

We are also appreciate the role played by the United Nations, as we are meeting today under its umbrella, hoping to make essential efforts in organizing the negotiation mechanisms and the proper functioning of the negotiating process.

Our meeting today will launch the indirect technical negotiations, and represents the first step on a thousand-mile journey for demarcating the southern borders. Out of our country’s interest, we look forward to achieving this file within a reasonable timeframe.

We are here today to discuss and negotiate on maritime boundary delimitation on the basis of international law and the armistice agreement signed on 1949 and documented by United Nations departments and Paulet–Newcombe Agreement signed on 1923. Specially, the provisions of the Convention on the line from Ras-al-Naqoura overland.

On the other hand, we are looking for other parties to comply with the international law requirements and to protect the confidentiality of deliberations. The stabilization of discussion of indirect technical negotiation meeting and the finalization of delimitation will be confirmed after ratification by Lebanese Authorities.

Thank you