BEIRUT, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon will not accept a maritime border demarcation plan that gives Lebanon an area less than 860 square km in the disputed area with Israel, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said on Friday.
"We want to protect our interests in this area rich in natural gas and the most important thing for Lebanon is to start oil and gas exploration," the minister was quoted as saying by Lebanese al-Jadeed TV.
Bou Habib said that the 860 square km area offered by Line 23 is very important as it achieves Lebanon's interests while the Frederick Hoff line previously suggested by the United States was rejected by Lebanese authorities as it only gives Lebanon 490 square km in the disputed area.
U.S. Envoy Amos Hochstein visited Lebanon earlier in February to hold negotiations with Lebanese officials on border demarcation but no final deal was made about the line that will be adopted in demarcation.
"There was a verbal offer and not a written one from the American mediator, but Hochstein's latest offer was more acceptable and positive compared to previous demarcation suggestions," Bou Habib said, adding that negotiations are still going on.
In 2020, Israel and Lebanon began U.S.-mediated negotiations concerning their maritime border but talks stalled when Lebanon expanded its demands, increasing the disputed area from 860 square km to 2,300 square km, which would include at least part of the Karish North field, initially claimed by Israel. ■
