Bahrain welcomes Lebanese-Israeli agreement

Manama

Bahrain welcomed the announcement of a framework agreement reached between the sisterly Republic of Lebanon and the State of Israel for peace talks on the demarcation of the maritime borders between the two countries. The talks are expected to be mediated by the United States and the United Nations. 

The Foreign Ministry considered the move as an important step for the demarcation of the maritime borders between the two countries, in a way that preserves the rights of the Lebanese Brothers. 

It congratulated the US government’s efforts to pave the way for this agreement and stated that it will constitute a favorable opportunity for direct negotiations between the Lebanese and Israelis and preserve the interests of the two countries towards more stability, peace, and prosperity in the region.

 For decades, Lebanon and Israel were in a state of a formal war on issues of land and maritime borders.  The United states has been mediating between the two countries to start talks on peace.

On Thursday, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said the framework for talks had been agreed.

“This is a framework agreement and not a final one,” Berri told a news conference, saying discussions would be held under the auspices of the United Nations at a base near the UN-monitored boundary with Israel, known as the Blue Line.

“The United States was asked by both sides, Israel and Lebanon, to act as a mediator and facilitator to draw up the maritime borders, and it is ready to do this,” he quoted an agreement as saying.