Berri Receives Williams, Discusses Lebanese Maritime Border Demarcation, Offshore Oil Exploitation

Local Editor

UN Secretary General's Special Coordinator to Lebanon Michael Williams believed that dialogue remains the only important way through solving problems and disputed between the Lebanese.

After meeting with Lebanese Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, Williams stated that he has summarized to Berri the UN Secretary General's report of implementing resolution 1701, adding that he [Williams] will be leaving to New York to explain this issue before the UN Security Council.

Williams said that he discussed with Speaker Berri in details the issue of Lebanese maritime borders, in addition to the extraction and investment of Lebanon's oil and gas offshore resources.

The UN Special coordinator expressed Speaker Berri's great concern in the aforementioned, and added that the UN will do its best to find a way to resolve this issue, "which represents a dispute between Lebanon and its neighbors", in reference to the "Israeli" enemy.

Michael Williams affirmed the UN's support to Lebanon's right to exploiting all its resources within its economic borders.

Williams further added he believes that the UN can help Lebanon demarcate its maritime border, yet saying this also depends on the other side. He clarified that this issue has not yet been discussed with the "Israeli" enemy, because Lebanon has not got demarcated maritime borders neither with Syria nor Cyprus.

He pointed out that he also discussed with Nabih Berri possibility of immediate extraction of the oil, after referring to that "Israel", which also has no demarcated maritime border with Lebanon, has already started its offshore oil and gas drilling.