Lebanese President Stresses Progress on Border Demarcation

Aoun meets with the new executive council of the Informatics and Technology Syndicate, at the Baabda Palace on Wednesday. (NNA)
Aoun meets with the new executive council of the Informatics and Technology Syndicate, at the Baabda Palace on Wednesday. (NNA)
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Lebanese President Stresses Progress on Border Demarcation

Aoun meets with the new executive council of the Informatics and Technology Syndicate, at the Baabda Palace on Wednesday. (NNA)
Aoun meets with the new executive council of the Informatics and Technology Syndicate, at the Baabda Palace on Wednesday. (NNA)

Lebanese President Michel Aoun said on Wednesday that he hoped his successor would complete the implementation of the anti-corruption process. He also noted that negotiations over the demarcation of the maritime border “have gone a long way,” pointing to technical details that are currently being studied “for the interest of Lebanon, its rights and sovereignty.”

The president’s remarks came during a meeting with the new executive council of the Informatics and Technology Syndicate, at the Baabda Palace.

“The completion of the demarcation of the southern maritime borders will enable Lebanon to launch oil and gas exploration in the specified fields within its exclusive economic zone, which will give the Lebanese economy a positive impetus,” Aoun stated.

He added: “The communications to complete the demarcation file have gone a long way… There are technical details that are currently being studied for the interest of Lebanon, its rights and sovereignty.”

US Mediator Amos Hochstein visited Beirut last week and met with senior Lebanese officials to listen to their viewpoint on some of the outstanding matters in the ongoing negotiations with Israel.

“I think we’re making good progress,” Hochstein said following his meeting with Aoun. “I’m very hopeful we can reach an agreement.”

The US envoy was expected to convey the Israeli response to Lebanese conditions for the maritime border Friday.

On a different note, Aoun told his visitors on Wednesday that the criminal financial audit of the Central Bank’s accounts was underway, adding that the first phase was set to be concluded by the end of September.

He also expressed hope that his successor would complete the implementation of projects launched under his tenure, in particular the process of combating corruption.



UN’s Tetteh Urges Libyan, Int’l Support for Advisory Committee

The head of the United Nations mission in Libya Hanna Tetteh and Egypt's Ambassador to Libya, Tamer El-Hefny (UN)
The head of the United Nations mission in Libya Hanna Tetteh and Egypt's Ambassador to Libya, Tamer El-Hefny (UN)
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UN’s Tetteh Urges Libyan, Int’l Support for Advisory Committee

The head of the United Nations mission in Libya Hanna Tetteh and Egypt's Ambassador to Libya, Tamer El-Hefny (UN)
The head of the United Nations mission in Libya Hanna Tetteh and Egypt's Ambassador to Libya, Tamer El-Hefny (UN)

The head of the United Nations mission in Libya, Hanna Tetteh, said the mission’s Advisory Committee needs support from Libyan parties and international partners to help create the right conditions for elections.

The UN mission said in a statement on Wednesday that Tetteh made the remarks during a meeting in Tripoli with Egypt's Ambassador to Libya, Tamer El-Hefny. The two discussed the committee’s ongoing work as well as Libya’s political and economic situation.

Tetteh reaffirmed the mission’s support for a Libyan-led reconciliation process facilitated by the African Union, emphasizing its victim-centered and human rights-based approach.

During a video meeting with Wahida Ayari, the Head of the AU Liaison Office in Libya (AULOL), Tetteh also discussed the protection of migrants and refugees in the country, the UN mission said.

Tetteh briefed Ayari on the work of the Advisory Committee and broader political process, while Ayari reiterated the African Union’s support for the UN mission’s mandate and efforts in Libya, according to the statement.

In a separate discussion, Tetteh and Greek Ambassador to Egypt Nikolaos Garilidis stressed the importance of maintaining Libya’s stability and ensuring effective management of its economic resources.

They also reviewed the political process, including the Advisory Committee’s ongoing work and economic track, along with other shared concerns. The statement quoted Garilidis as reaffirming Greece’s commitment, alongside the UN mission, to advancing Libya’s political process.

Tetteh is set to brief the UN Security Council this month on political, security, and humanitarian developments, as well as the latest updates from the UN mission.

According to the Security Council Report, a platform that tracks and analyzes the Council’s work, Tetteh’s briefing on efforts to revive political dialogue will likely be followed by a statement supporting UN mediation efforts or a closed-door meeting to discuss ways to break Libya’s political deadlock.